Syria supports Venezuela's UN Security Council seat bid

Syria supported Venezuela in its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council and was lobbying several other nations to support Venezuela's bid as well, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad said Monday.

After meeting Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jose Vicente Rangel, the visiting deputy minister said that there were many nations interested in supporting Venezuela.

"In Asia and Africa, you can find a great deal of support for the Venezuelan government, particularly in Arab countries," he said.

Venezuela is competing with Guatemala for a regional seat on the Security Council.

The U.S. government, which is at odds with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has publicly backed Guatemala's bid.

Chavez vowed on Sunday that Venezuela would continue to fight for the seat, and slammed Washington for pressuring other countries to reject his nation's candidacy.

"This election will be in October. Venezuela is a candidate and it will not withdraw," Chavez said on his weekly television and radio show "Alo Presidente."

"The U.S. government has begun a worldwide campaign against Venezuela, trying to prevent us from being elected democratically to a place on the Security Council," Chavez said.

Venezuela would fight "the most brutal imperialism" to achieve its goal of a Security Council seat, he said.

Source: Xinhua