UN Braces for Long Haul As Security Council Election Goes on

The tussle between Venezuela and Guatemala for a temporary seat on the UN security council entered its second day yesterday, as neither commanded a two-thirds majority of the general assembly.

The countries were vying for a Latin American seat on the security council, one of 10 non-permanent positions, in an ideologically charged contest. Venezuela is presenting itself as the lead opponent of American hegemony, while Guatemala has Washington's backing.

As the number of attempts to extract a decision from the 192 UN nations ran into double figures, there was little prospect of a quick resolution. The 14th time the assembly was polled, Guatemala remained ahead of its rival with 108 votes to Venezuela's 76, but still fell short of the 126 needed to win. Even if the five nations who abstained were to swing behind Guatemala, the deadlock would remain. Guatemala has consistently been ahead, except for the sixth vote, when the two countries tied at 93 votes each.

UN ambassadors were bracing themselves for the long haul. Voting could be extended for days until delegates are forced to swing behind one of the candidate countries out of sheer desperation. In 1979, the general assembly held 154 votes between Cuba andColombia. In the end, Mexico entered the race and was elected on the 155th attempt. Mexico, Costa Rica and Uruguay are thought to be possible candidates to step in this time.

However, governments are likely to be cautious about putting their names forward in a competition that has become so polarised. Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, has taken on the mantle in Washington's view traditionally worn by Cuba's Fidel Castro as irritant-in-chief.

The Venezuelan government has invested huge sums in the form of aid to countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa in its campaign for the security council seat. "We are fighting against the first power of the world, the owners of the universe," said Venezuela's ambassador to the UN, Francisco Arias Cárdenas.

Guatemala appeared equally dogged in its refusal to back out yesterday, although its foreign minister, Gert Rosenthal, did express unease at the portrayal of his country as an American stooge. "Frankly we resent it a bit being told we are going to toe the line of not only the United States but any other power. We make our own decisions."

The victor will take over from Argentina on January 1 for two years. Nepal, Belgium, Italy and South Africa have already been elected as non-permanent members of the council. They have no veto, which is reserved for the permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the US, but if Venezuela were to join them, it would put a spoke in Washington's wheel.