BREAKING NEWS

Jordan seeks UN Security Council seat after Saudi rejection

Jordan has formally submitted abid for a two-year seat on the UN Security Council, officialssaid on Monday, after its ally Saudi Arabia rejected theposition partly in protest over international failure to endSyria's civil war.

Jordan, which closely follows regional heavyweight SaudiArabia on most foreign policy issues, wants to raise itsinternational profile and win more recognition of its role inaccommodating Syrian refugees, the officials said.

Its bid follows Saudi Arabia's surprise move last month todecline a coveted seat on the 15-member Security Council overthe United Nations' failure to halt Syria's civil war, toresolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and stop nuclearproliferation in the region.

Officials made clear Jordan's bid had the blessing of SaudiArabia, its biggest financial backer, and of the United States.