US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said most members of the Organization of American States (OAS) have agreed to support Chilean Interior Minister Jose Insulza's bid for post of secretary-general of the 34-member organization.

In a press conference in El Salvador, the last leg of her Latin America tour, Rice said Friday evening that the United States and most of the other OAS members agreed to support Insulza.

On Friday, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez, another candidate for the post, announced the withdrawal of his candidacy. In an April 11 vote, the two candidates won 17 votes each and another vote is slated for May 2.

"We could reach consensus on Insulza, who has impressed everyone with his firm dedication to democracy and the Democratic Charter" of the OAS, Rice said.

She said the countries of the region have to respect the OAS charter, "which is the essence" of the organization, and seek mechanisms to "monitor" its fulfillment.

During her stay in El Salvador, Rice thanked the role played by Salvadorian Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez in helping reach the agreement.

Rice concluded in El Salvador her Latin America tour, which had already taken her to Brazil, Colombia and Chile.