German president urges permanent Security Council seat for Africa

Abuja - German President Horst Koehler said Monday that Africa should have a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council

Continuing his six-day visit to Nigeria, Koehler said that in efforts to reform the body, there must be a "fair representation of Africa," although he did not specify which country should be considered to hold the seat.

The German president also said that a fair representation for all the world's regions should be assured as well in other international organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Koehler himself had previously headed the IMF.

Koehler said this issue should be taken up in the debate concerning the causes of the international financial crisis.

The German president arrived in Nigeria on Friday and over the weekend participated in the Africa Forum, an initiative of his that brings together African and European business leaders. The state visit part of his trip to Nigeria began on Monday. (dpa)

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