Japan will give up its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the time being since it had failed to win enough support from the international community, a Japanese newspaper reported on Sunday.

However, a spokesman for the prime minister said he was unaware of any such decision.

There shouldn't be discrimination on veto: Jap

Japan, Brazil, Germany and India, the Group of 4, proposed the expanding the council to 25 seats, adding 6 permanent seats without veto power.

The 4 countries hoped to get permanent seats, with the two remaining seats reserved for Africa. They had proposed the
addition of 4 non-permanent seats, including one for Africa.

G-4 suggests concessions for AU

But the Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported on Sunday that Japan will soon hold talks with the three other countries to confirm that they are giving up their group of 4 bid. The report did not cite sources.

Foreign Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment.     

Pak offers UNSC cookie to Japan

Yu Kameoka, a spokesman for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, said he had not heard of any decision regarding the
UN vote. 

The council currently has 10 members elected for two-year terms and 5 permanent members with veto power, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.