The UN General Assembly on Friday elected Japan, Turkey, Austria, Mexico and Uganda to seats on the powerful Security Council for 2009-10, rejecting bids by Iran and Iceland.As expected, heavyweight Japan defeated Iran, which is under Security Council sanctions because of its nuclear programme, for an Asian seat coming vacant on January 1. Japan got 158 votes from the 192-member assembly and Iran only 32.In a three-way contest for two European seats, Iceland - an apparent victim of its grave financial crisis - scored 87 votes, well short of the two-thirds majority required. Turkey went through easily and Austria by a narrower margin. The election of Mexico and Uganda had been virtually assured since they were unopposed in their regional groupings.US and British envoys were exultant about the low vote for Iran. British Ambassador John Sawers said Iran had been "thrashed". The Iranian delegation did not speak to reporters after exiting the General Assembly hall.
