UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations came into being in October 1945, created after the destruction of World War II with the goal of maintaining international peace and security.
The United Nations also aims to develop friendly relations between nations, cooperate on international problems and to help promote respect for human rights and freedoms.
Today, there are 191 UN member nations, 15 of them holding seats on the UN Security Council -- the UN's top decision-making power, with the ability to authorise military action and impose sanctions.
The council has had the same five veto-wielding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- since the organisation was founded.
Ten others hold rotating two-year memberships without veto power -- currently Algeria, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Denmark, Greece, Japan, the Philippines, Romania and Tanzania.
The council is the only body capable of authorising UN peacekeeping missions and there are now more than a dozen in operation spanning from Haiti to East Timor. There is no standing UN army, and troops are provided by member states.
The other major organs of the United Nations include the General Assembly, in which all member states have a vote, the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of Justice, which is based in The Hague.
Most of the resources of the United Nations, which is almost entirely funded by member governments, are devoted to development.
03/19/2005 13:41 GMT