“Saudi Arabia’s angry rejection of a Security Council seat one day after winning it is a United Nations first that stunned members of the body Friday. But diplomats said there had been no official notice from Riyadh of its refusal to take up the seat on January 1. It was possible the kingdom could change its mind, they added. ‘This is totally unexpected. We all had to look into the council history for a precedent and there is not one,’ said a Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. ‘Campaigning and securing a seat normally takes years of preparation which makes the announcement even more surprising.’”
Source: Saudi rejection stuns UN Security Council | GulfNews.com
