Arab states call on Saudi Arabia to rethink UNSC seat rejection

Arab nations have appealed to Saudi Arabia to reverse its decision to reject a seat on the UN Security Council.

Arab UN ambassadors made the appeal after an emergency meeting on Saudi Arabia's surprise announcement that it would not take up a Security Council seat to protest the body's handling of the Syria war and other conflicts.

According to Gulf News, a statement released by Arab states at the UN said that Saudi Arabia should 'maintain their membership in the Security Council.

The statement expressed "respect and understanding" for the Saudi position.

It added that it was crucial for Saudi Arabia to represent the Arab and Muslim world on the council "at this important and historical stage, specifically for the Middle East region," the report said.

Saudi Arabia won a prized two year seat on the 15 nation Security Council in a UN General Assembly election on Thursday.

The government stunned the world the following day however by accusing the council of "double standards" in handling conflicts such as the 32-month-old Syria war, the report added.