Saudi turns down UN Security Council membership

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday turned down membership of the United Nations Security Council, accusing the powerful body of “double-standards” a day after it won a seat on it.

“Therefore Saudi Arabia… has no other option but to turn down Security Council membership until it is reformed and given the means to accomplish its duties and assume its responsiblities in preserving the world’s peace and security,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.