Wednesday, March 29 2006 14:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India, Japan, Pakistan and Bangladesh are among the member states which have given notice that they intend to contest for the newly established 47-member Human Rights Council.

Among other declared candidates for 13 seats allotted to Asia are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia and South Korea, UN sources said.

Thus so far 8 candidates have offered themselves for the 13 seats but sources say more countries are expected to jump in fray in coming days.

The 191-member General Assembly is due to hold first election for the Council, which has replaced the much criticized Human Rights Commission, on May 9 and a member to be elected would require a majority of the total membership of the world body or a minimum 96 votes.The voting will be by secret ballot.

The United States has yet to formally declare its candidacy but officials say they expect Washington to contest. There is still a lot of time, a diplomat said.

The Western Europe Group, from which US would contest, has been allotted seven seats and so far Britain, France, Germany and Finland has made their intention known to seek the Council's membership.

Africa too has been given 13 spots and Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Nigeria have made their intention to contest known.

For eight seats allotted to the Latin America and the Caribbean, eight candidates -- Argentina. Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay and Honduras have already declared their candidacy, sources said.