UN member states will elect five non-permanent members to the Security Council on Friday.

Three countries from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, one from Eastern Europe and one from Latin America and the Caribbean will be chosen to succeed Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brazil, whose terms all expire on 31 December this year, says the statement issued on UN website.

New members will be elected by secret ballot to join Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa, whose terms end on 31 December 2012, and the five permanent Council members, which each wield the power of veto – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Winning candidates need two thirds of those countries present and voting. Balloting will continue until enough candidates reach that threshold, even if only one country is competing for a seat in a particular region.

Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo are vying for the three seats for Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, while Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovenia are contesting the Eastern European category. Guatemala is the only declared candidate for the Latin America and the Caribbean region.