African Union foreign ministers have developed a plan that would give the continent two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
The ministers decided on the plan Saturday during a meeting in the Libyan resort city of Sirte. In addition to the permanent seats, Africa wants three non-permanent members on the council.
The proposal approved by the AU ministers goes farther than a plan circulated by the so-called Group of Four nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. That plan would give Africa just two non-permanent seats on the council.
The 15-member U.N. body currently has five permanent members - a status that includes veto power for the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
The AU ministers' meeting was held in advance of the African Union summit Monday and Tuesday in Sirte.