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UN vote on Latin America resumes Venezuela 'fights on' for UN seat
(about 7 hours later)
Voting has entered a second day at the United Nations with Guatemala and Venezuela battling it out to win a temporary seat on the Security Council. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he will continue to fight for a UN Security Council seat despite deadlock with Latin America rival Guatemala.
After 11 rounds of ballots Guatemala is well ahead of Venezuela but remains 15 votes short of a two-thirds majority. Voting has ended for a second day at the United Nations. After 22 rounds, Guatemala continues to lead but is still short of a two-thirds majority.
Washington has been lobbying hard for Guatemala, describing Venezuela as too confrontational to merit a seat.Washington has been lobbying hard for Guatemala, describing Venezuela as too confrontational to merit a seat.
Venezuela - a strong critic of the US - says any vote for it is a vote for the conscience of the developing world. The deadlock has led to calls for a compromise Latin America candidate.
The last round of ballots ended with 76 votes for Venezuela to 107 for Guatemala. A majority of 124 votes is needed to win the seat. 'Blackmail'
Lobbying and deadlock In the final round for Tuesday, Guatemala won 102 votes to Venezuela's 77, similar to many previous rounds but still short of decisive. A winner needs 124 votes.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says that despite a night of diplomatic activity all that has changed since the last ballot is that more nations are abstaining. We have made our position in a very low-key way John Bolton,US Ambassador to UN
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has described Mr Bush as "the devil"Countries may be trying to send a signal that as the vote seems deadlocked, it is time for a compromise candidate to come into the race, our correspondent says. Voting resumes on Thursday, allowing for negotiations on a possible Latin America compromise nation.
Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay could emerge in the compromise. But President Chavez said: "Venezuela doesn't give up. I say it here to the whole world, Venezuela will continue waging this battle."
The race has been the most dramatic at the Security Council since Cuba ran against Colombia in 1979, at the height of the Cold War, our correspondent adds. He accused the US of "blackmail, pressure, threats of all sorts".
The 1979 battle between Cuba and Colombia took three months of voting to resolve, with Mexico eventually winning as the compromise candidate. US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, denied pressuring anyone.
The US has been promoting Guatemala as a constructive member of the Security Council, saying that Venezuela - with its anti-US agenda - would be disruptive. "We have made our position in a very low-key way. It's motivated by our concern for Venezuela's behaviour," he said.
The Venezuelans argue that they will be an independent member of the council, promoting social justice, peace and security. A 1979 battle between Cuba and Colombia took three months of voting to resolve, with Mexico eventually winning as the compromise candidate.
Rotation This time, Costa Rica, Panama and Uruguay could emerge in a compromise.
With Iran, Darfur and North Korea on the agenda of the council in the coming months, a position on the Security Council gives some influence over key decisions.With Iran, Darfur and North Korea on the agenda of the council in the coming months, a position on the Security Council gives some influence over key decisions.
Five of the UN Security Council seats are held permanently by China, the US, Russia, the UK and France.Five of the UN Security Council seats are held permanently by China, the US, Russia, the UK and France.
The others are held by regional blocs from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Western Europe and Eastern Europe.The others are held by regional blocs from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Western Europe and Eastern Europe.
Other regional seats, which are rotated every two years, went to Indonesia, South Africa, Italy and Belgium in the first round of voting.Other regional seats, which are rotated every two years, went to Indonesia, South Africa, Italy and Belgium in the first round of voting.