Thursday, July 7 2005 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India, Brazil, Germany and Japan made the first move toward a possible vote next week on their resolution to expand the powerful UN Security Council despite differences with Africa and the United States.

The decision by the Group of Four, to seek a vote in the General Assembly without clear support from the 53-nation African Union is a gamble. But the four countries believe their proposal gives Africa almost everything it wants and far more than it has now.

The Group of Four delivered the resolution to the UN Secretariat yesterday to be translated into the world body's six official languages, Japan's UN Mission said in a statement.

The translation of the resolution is a prerequisite for official distribution to the 191 UN member states and consideration by the General Assembly.

Japan said the Group of Four, also known as the G-4, will request that debate on the resolution start as early as next week. "Japan intends to direct its efforts towards adoption of the draft resolution during the month of July," the statement said.

Diplomats from other G-4 countries, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they expect the debate to take place for several days next week, culminating with a vote.

There is wide support among UN members for expanding the Security Council to represent the global realities of the 21st century rather than of the post-World War II era when the United Nations was created. But the precise size and membership of an expanded council remains contentious.