UN Council moves to consider Palestinian bid

United Nations: The Security Council is taking its first official step to consider the Palestinians' request for UN membership.

Lebanese Ambassador Nawaf Salam, who holds this month's rotating council presidency, on Wednesday announced that he was forwarding the Palestinians' request to the committee on new admissions, which includes all 15 member states on the council.

The step is required by council rules of procedure. The committee will meet to consider the request for membership on Friday.