FERNANDEZ

WASHINGTON (AP):

Venezuela has asked the Dominican Republic to consider nominating a candidate for a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, Dominican President Leonel Fernandez said yesterday.

Venezuela has been vying in the U.N. General Assembly with Guatemala for the seat but neither has been able to garner the two-thirds majority needed for victory. Venezuela has trailed Guatemala virtually throughout the 41 ballots.

Fernandez, who met with President George W. Bush on Wednesday, said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called him to discuss the possibility of a Dominican emerging as a possible consensus candidate to break the stalemate.

"Our answer was that we are going to consider that as a possibility," Fernandez said. He spoke to a gathering at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

There were conflicting reports earlier this week as to whether Venezuela had asked Bolivian President Evo Morales to nominate a candidate. Bolivia is a close ally of Venezuela.

The battle over the U.N. seat has attracted international attention. A Venezuelan victory would give President Hugo Chavez a new international platform for airing his anti-American views.

Guatemala is seen as pro-American and has had the strong support of the United States.

The seat is reserved for a country from the Latin American-Caribbean region and will become vacant on January 1.