African countries support India's bid for permanent UNSC seat

From V Mohan Narayan
Addis Ababa, May 24 (PTI) African countries on Tuesday
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
Indian 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.