Reuters.com - U.S. says it backs Japan's bid for UN council seat
"The United States said on Tuesday it supports Japan's bid for a U.N. Security Council seat but stopped short of endorsing a U.N. reform proposal made by the Group of Four -- Japan, Germany, India and Brazil...The Group of Four want to add 10 new seats to the 15-member council -- four permanent seats for themselves, two permanent seats for African nations, and another four nonpermanent seats. The African Union wants 11 additional seats -- six permanent and five nonpermanent."