hallo1

UNITED NATIONS — Venezuela and the U.S. — and, by proxy, leftist President Hugo Chavez and President Bush — went toe-to-toe Monday at the U.N. General Assembly, each trying to wrest from the other the last vacant seat on the powerful Security Council.

The U.S. backed the candidacy of Guatemala, which fought back Venezuela’s bid after eight rounds of voting, but failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority to win a two-year term on the decision-making body.

After battling back to tie Guatemala in the sixth round, Venezuela’s push began to lose steam, falling to 85 votes in the eighth round, to Guatemala’s 102.

Guatemala won 109 votes in the first round, 114 in the second, 116 in the third, 110 in the fourth, and 103 in the fifth. Venezuela received 76 votes, then 74, 70, 75, then 83.

Under the rules, voting is to continue until a candidate emerges with a two-thirds majority. A protracted stalemate is therefore possible — there are precedents involving over 30 rounds of voting, and there is the possibility that the General Assembly could end its fall term without filling the seat.

(Story continues below)