Chavez Retreats

After dozens of stalemated votes in the UN, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez is finally admitting defeat in his quest for a seat on the Security Council:

Venezuela says it will withdraw from a bitter contest to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council if its rival, Guatemala, does the same. Venezuela's foreign minister also said the US must end its "crude blackmail" of other nations in trying to secure a seat for its favoured candidate.

Neither Guatemala, which Venezuela says is a US proxy, nor Venezuela have polled enough votes yet to gain a seat.

Guatemala has reportedly rejected Bolivia as a compromise candidate. Bolivian President Evo Morales earlier said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had offered to let Bolivia take his country's place in the race. Bolivia, like its ally, Venezuela, has strained relations with the US.

I frankly thought this would go on until he had successfully bullied enough countries to support him. I guess "El Diablo" has won again.