Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would propose Bolivia to run for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council if Venezuela failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to win the race over US-backed Guatemala, said Bolivian president Evo Morales.

In Caracas, however, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said his country would continue its efforts to win the rotating seat on the UN Security Council.

"There are... initiatives to seek consensus and we have said that Venezuela will not withdraw its candidacy," Maduro said, adding the Bolivian option would only be discussed if Guatemala withdrew. 

Maduro called on the United States to "end its disgusting pressure and blackmail on the governments of the region, and... for a transparent process to seek an option that represents the region."

Guatemala and Venezuela are both campaigning for the two-year rotating seat on the UN Security Council.

Venezuela, lagging slightly behind Guatemala in almost all votes, tied the race last week after 35 rounds.

Both countries have fallen short of the majority needed to win, and a 36th round of voting is scheduled for Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)