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Wednesday, Nov 01, 2006
Politics & Government

Panama emerges as consensus candidate for Security Council seat

By Pablo Bachelet
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)

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WASHINGTON - Venezuela and Guatemala on Wednesday ended a fractious two-week contest for a U.N. Security Council seat and endorsed Panama as a surprise alternative.

The mutual pullout marks a blow to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's ambitions to gain a voice in the powerful body for his leftist and bitterly anti-Bush stance. Chavez had lobbied strongly for the seat in several world trips.

But it also frustrates the U.S.-backed Guatemala, which has never served on the council. It launched its candidacy four years ago, only to see it unravel as it became embroiled in the wider conflict pitting the Bush administration against Chavez.