In remarks aimed at Japan and Germany, the Italian ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday that permanent seats on the UN Security Council should not be put "up for sale." The ambassador, Sergio Vento, said that although Italy was the fifth largest contributor to the UN's general budget, "it rejects any abusive linkage between contributions and attribution of permanent seats."

He was speaking to a working group on Security Council reform which had earlier heard the US ambassador, Richard Holbrooke, endorse claims by Japan and Germany for permanent seats on an enlarged council. Holbrooke said Washington had held this position since the 1970s.

Japan publicly bases its claim on the fact that it contributes 19.9 percent of the UN's general budget, more than any other country except the United States, which contributes 25 percent. Germany, with 9.8 percent, is the third payer, followed by France (6.5 percent), Italy (5.4 percent) and Britain (5.1 percent). France and Britain, which already have permanent seats -- along with the United States, China and Russia -- also support Germany and Japan.

Vento did not mention any other member state by name. But, he said, "Italy reacts to the impression that permanent seats might be up for sale."

Holbrooke told the working group that the United States was prepared to relax its conditions for enlarging the Security Council. It would no longer insist on limiting the number of new members to six and the overall membership to 21, he said.

Vento said Italy favoured an enlarged council, but believed all new members should hold non-permanent seats.