African countries support India's bid for permanent UN Security Council seat

ADDIS ABABA: African countries today came out in support of India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council and appreciated its unstinted assistance towards their all round developmental programmes.

The backing for India's aspirations for a Security Council permanent seat came during the retreat chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Second Africa India Forum Summit here.

The discussions centred on the need to take effective steps to ensure that decisions taken were implemented in an efficient and result-oriented manner, Vivek Katju, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, told reporters after the retreat which lasted for about two hours over lunch.

The Prime Minister, who is here on a three-day visit, has held a series of meetings with African leaders who included the African Commission Chairperson Jean Ping. He has also met leaders from Ethiopia, Equitorial Guinea and Burundi.

Singh told Ping that India supported efforts of the African Union with regard to the situation prevailing in North Africa, said Katju.