Kathmandu, Mar 13: Nepal is to contest for the non-permanent Asian seat of the UN Security Council for the 2007-2008 term, a newspaper report today said. The English-language daily ''Kathmandu Post'' quoting government sources said the Cabinet decided to seek the seat during a meeting held on Thursday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Madan Kumar Bhattarai confirmed the decision saying, Nepal will start lobbying for the 2006 election for the councils temporary members.'' Nepal already has served twice as a non-permanent member on the council since it entered the UN. In December 1955. Nepal was a member of the Security Council in 1969-70 and 1988-89.

Bureau Report