Jordan has applied for a two-year term at the United Nations Security Council, after the Saudi Arabia turned down its seat at the council.

Jordan has applied for a two-year term at the United Nations Security Council, after the Saudi Arabia turned down its seat at the council.

The move was announced by the country’s information minister, Mohammad Momonai.

"Jordan has officially applied for a non-permanent seat on the UN security Council. The kingdom is interested in this seat and realizes its political and diplomatic responsibilities," d Momonai told AFP.

"The country hopes to receive international support for this application, which comes as a result of Jordan's balanced and rational policies."

Earlier this month, diplomats said Amman had been reluctant to take up the Asia-Pacific seat on the 15-nation Security Council but had been persuaded to do so by Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia won a UN General Assembly vote on October 17 for a two-year term on the council.

But it then shocked other nations by announcing the following day that it would not take up the seat in protest at the council's failure to act on the Syria conflict.