Mexico returns to UN Security Council next January

The newly elected countries will replace Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama and South Africa when their terms on the 15-member body expire at the end of this year. Council elections are held by secret ballot in the General Assembly, and a winning candidate requires a two-thirds majority of ballots of members present and voting. Formal balloting takes place even in those regions where there is only one candidate per available seat. The Council's five other non-permanent members, whose terms end on 31 December 2009, are Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Libya and Viet Nam. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States.