The Dominican Republic has announced it will consider seeking Latin America's open seat on the U.N. Security Council.
President Leonel Fernandez said Thursday that Venezuela's foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, called him urging the Dominican Republic to consider seeking the post as a consensus candidate.
The U.N. General Assembly remained deadlocked on a candidate for the open seat.
Guatemala maintained its vote lead over Venezuela in six rounds of voting Wednesday, but fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
The only outstanding seat on the 2007 Council has been put to 41 votes since October 16.
The General Assembly decided Wednesday to put off another vote for the non-permanent seat for five days.
Bolivian President Evo Morales says his country is competing for the Latin American seat. He has said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a strong critic of President Bush, told him Bolivia should run in Venezuela's place.
However, Venezuelan officials say they have not withdrawn their country's candidacy for the seat and that nominating Bolivia is just one option under consideration.