Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez challenged the United States on Thursday to try to block his attempt to secure a U.N. Security Council seat as he seeks to curb Washington's "imperialist" influence.

A U.N. General Assembly vote set for October to award two-year Security Council seats to five nations is the latest arena for sparring between Caracas and Washington, which views Chavez as a strongman using Venezuela's oil wealth to promote an anti-democratic agenda throughout Latin America.

"We accept this challenge against the empire," Chavez told military officers at a promotion ceremony in Caracas. "The United States says Venezuela will not go to the Security Council and we say Venezuela will."

The world's fifth-largest oil exporter and an OPEC member, Venezuela is already opposing Washington's attempts to press for U.N. action against Iran over its nuclear program.

The United States has promoted ally Guatemala as a rival candidate to Venezuela for a seat on the 15-nation council, while Chavez accuses Washington of trying to sway Latin American nations to vote against him.

Joining with traditional U.S. foes Cuba and Iran, Chavez has presented his ideas of socialist revolution and regional cooperation as a counterweight to Washington's influence in Latin America, where leftist leaders have gained stature.

Among Latin American nations, Argentina and Brazil are expected to support Venezuela's bid for a seat, but not Mexico. Chile says it remains undecided.

"We've opened up the battle to the world," said Chavez, a former soldier popular for his social reforms for the poor. "Little by little, governments are joining us despite U.S. imperialist pressure on them - in fact, because of it."

Of the Security Council's 15 members, 10 hold two-year terms, with five nations elected each year by the 192-nation General Assembly.

The other five seats are held permanently by the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. While those five have veto power in the council, they have just one vote each in the General Assembly balloting.

Venezuela could not single-handedly block council resolutions, but could scuttle certain statements and decisions that need the agreement of all 15 council members. It would also hold the council's rotating presidency for one month, giving it a voice in the agenda and the conduct of meetings.

While some analysts say Chavez may secure a seat as several Latin American countries reject the U.S. candidate, Venezuela failed to get one of the four seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council when the General Assembly voted this year.

"When the U.S. is seen backing a country - this time Guatemala - the South Americans react," said Riordan Rhoett, director of Latin American studies at Johns Hopkins University.

"Countries like Argentina will have a very difficult time supporting Guatemala," he said.