Security Council backs South Sudan in U.N.

UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (UPI) -- The Security Council Wednesday officially recommended the new state of South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations.

The resolution, taken without a vote, responded to a request for admission submitted by Salva Kiir, president of the country that became independent of Sudan Saturday. The matter now goes to the General Assembly.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, current president of the council, read a statement welcoming South Sudan and noting its commitment to uphold the U.N. Charter.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said "we must continue to help" the new African country, which ranks at the bottom of almost all indexes of human development.

In a separate meeting, the council heard from peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy on the transition from the U.N. Mission in Sudan to the U.N. Mission in the Republic of South Sudan, which will support the new government with 7,000 soldiers and 900 civilian police.

Le Roy said an initial 1,643 peacekeepers will be sent to the disputed Abyei border region next week.