Venezuela, US spar over UN security council bid

CARACAS - Venezuela's government has accused the United States of pressuring allies to scuttle its attempts to secure a seat on the UN Security Council in the latest diplomatic spat between Caracas and Washington.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has riled American officials with his campaign to counter US influence in Latin America, is seeking a seat on the 15-nation council against rival candidate Guatemala, which is backed by Washington.

Allied with Cuba and Iran, Chavez has become a harsh and steady critic of Washington's policies, including the Iraq war, while US officials say he is pushing his oil exporting nation toward authoritarian rule and threatening regional stability.

"To declare yourself against a candidate first you must have morals and they have lost them violating Security Council resolutions," Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister for North America Maripili Hernandez said in a statement.

"It is illegitimate, disrespectful and immoral for the United States to pressure friendly nations to turn against Venezuela."

Venezuela, a major oil supplier to the US market, has opposed Washington's attempts to press for UN resolutions against Iran over its nuclear programme and US officials say giving Caracas a seat would not help in "effective operation" of the Security Council.

"We've got our views on who are good candidates. And obviously we think that Guatemala would be an excellent one, given its participation in peacekeeping operations," US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters.

Among Latin American nations, Argentina and Brazil are expected to support Venezuela' bid for a seat, but not Mexico. Chile is undecided, diplomats said.

The Security Council has 15 members, 10 rotating for two-year terms, with five nations elected each year in October by the 191-member General Assembly.

The United States, Britain, France, Russia and China are permanent Security Council members with veto power but have only one vote in the General Assembly balloting.

- REUTERS