With the clock ticking down to the October 18 UN Security Council vote, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong pressed Cambodia’s case in front of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, calling for support in its bid for one of five non-permanent seats for the year 2013-14.

“Cambodia wishes to contribute through the United Nations Security Council to the cause of peace, security and peaceful settlement of conflicts nowadays,” he said in a statement presented during Saturday’s general debate.

The government said more than 100 countries offered support for its candidacy, but rights groups have urged the international community to take what they call an escalation of rights violations into account before the vote.

To contact the reporter on this story: Abby Seiff at [email protected]