Saudi Arabia Officially Rejects Security Council Seat Saudi Arabia has officially rejected in writing the United Nations Security Council seat it won last month, clearing the way for a replacement country to be chosen, diplomatic officials said Wednesday. The Group of Asia Pacific States, the bloc of General Assembly members entitled to fill the nonpermanent seat, must now choose among themselves at least one replacement candidate, and a special election may have to be scheduled if more than one member wants to vie for the seat. Diplomatic officials said last week that Jordan was a likely contender. Saudi Arabia announced Oct. 18 that it would not take the seat, surprising fellow members, but the Saudis did not officially notify Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in writing, as required, until this week. The Saudi decision was widely seen as part of a broader display of the country's anger at the United States over American policies toward Syria, Egypt, Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.