3 S Asian states want to vie for Human Rights Council seats

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.