Austria and Turkey beat Iceland for European spots among the rotating memberships of the United Nations panel. From the Associated Press October 18, 2008
UNITED NATIONS — Japan defeated Iran for a nonpermanent Asian seat on the United Nations Security Council and Austria and Turkey edged out Iceland for European seats in secret-ballot voting Friday.

Iran, under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear program, received only 32 votes from U.N. members, compared with 158 for Japan. Mexico and Uganda ran unopposed and received seats.

The Security Council has the ability to impose sanctions and dispatch peacekeepers. Ten of its 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year stretches. Its permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.