Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Chile will abstain today from voting for a candidate for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, saying that the two nations vying to represent Latin America, Venezuela and Guatemala, lack the support to win.

Government spokesman Ricardo Lagos announced the decision last night, according to a statement on the Chilean government's Web site. The seat on the UN's main policy-making panel is scheduled to be filled today.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Walsh in Santiago at hlwalsh@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 16, 2006 08:42 EDT