The five new countries will replace Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, and Uganda whose two-year term expires at the end of 2010.

According to the UN, the contesting countries need a two-third majority of the 192 member states in the Assembly. The selections are based on the geographical groupings.

India has run unopposed and was elected with 187 votes to represent the South Asian region in the first round of balloting.

The five new countries will join Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon, and Nigeria, whose terms on the Council end on 31 December 2011 and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.