The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have been holding a series of discussions over the contentious issue of the body's expansion, UN diplomats said.
Ambassadors from United States, Russia, China, Britain and France met on Monday to follow up on a discussion by their foreign ministers on council reform.
The diplomat on condition of anonymity confirmed that the conference call, which took place Friday afternoon included US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
However, Richard Grenell, spokesman for the US mission to the UN, refused to confirm any meetings. But he said, "The US has been discussing this issue with the five permanent members and others for several weeks."
There is wide support from among the 191 UN member states for expanding the Security Council. However, the size and membership of an expanded council remain highly contentious.
The current council has five permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
After 10 years of seemingly endless debate, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told UN member states in March that he wants a decision on council expansion before September.
Annan suggested that if consensus wasn't possible, the General Assembly president should consider calling a vote, which would have to take place this summer. With that timetable in place, the lobbying in capitals around the world has escalated.
Two weeks ago, Annan met supporters of the two main rival plans but no consensus was reached. He has urged both sides to keep talking and sort out their differences.
Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have circulated a resolution to expand the council from 15 to 25 members and create six new permanent seats.
The four countries have been lobbying for four of those permanent seats with the other two earmarked for Africa.
