United Nations ? Venezuela refused to abandon its bid for a U.N. Security Council seat despite trailing Guatemala in a dozen rounds of voting Tuesday, creating a deadlock that led to new calls for a compromise candidate.

In the day’s last vote – the 22nd over two days – Guatemala garnered 102 votes to Venezuela’s 77. That result, similar to that of many of the previous rounds in the General Assembly, was short of the two-thirds majority of the 192-member body needed to win, and diplomats said it appeared that neither would be able to bridge the gap.

The U.N. General Assembly will take a day off from voting today to allow Latin American and Caribbean nations time to seek a way out of the standoff over their regional seat. The 23rd ballot will be Thursday morning.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that his country would not give up in its bid for the council seat, despite trailing Guatemala.

“Venezuela doesn’t give up,” Chavez said. “I say it here to the whole world, Venezuela will continue waging this battle.”