UN tug of war over Latin American Security Council seat

Venezuela is behind Guatemala after the 10th round of secret balloting to decide who will occupy the Latin American seat on the UN Security Council. After breaking even with Guatemala in round six, Venezuela scored just 77 votes in the 10th round, compared to 110 for Guatemala. Venezuela's president is considered a foe of the US, and Washington has openly backed Guatemala.

"The US isn't campaigning so I don't understand why some people are on one side and some on the other," said Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, Francisco Javier Arias Cardenas. "We haven't seen that before here. It's not the way to promote democracy among countries."

Guatemala's ambassador, Gert Rosenthal, said his country was feeling confident. "We have no reason to step out of the race unilaterally. I have to remind you, we're well ahead in the number of votes. if this goes on for days and neither party can raise two-thirds of the vote, at some point both would withdraw in favour of a consensus candidate."

The secret ballots continue until a nation wins the required majority, or until a compromise candidate emerges. In 1979 one of these ballots went on for 155 rounds in a race between Colombia and Cuba.