Cote d'Ivoires, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the Netherlands began to assume responsibilities on Monday as non-permanent members of the security Council.

The five countries but the Netherlands hold a two-year term while the Netherlands has a one-year tenure as it is sharing a two-year term with Italy.

Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay as well as Italy have just left the Security Council.

The 15-member Security Council has five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The 10 non-permanent members are elected with two-year terms.