Venezuela is pleading for international help in its bid to extradite a former CIA operative wanted for the killing dozens of people. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said his government has asked the UN Security Council to intervene in the case of Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles is wanted for the 1976 bombing of a Cuban passenger flight that killed seventy three people. He’s been detained in the United States after illegally entering last year. Carriles could soon be freed but the Bush administration says it won’t send him back to Cuba or Venezuela. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister also says his government is facing new resistance from the US over its attempt to join the UN Security Council.

• Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro: “As you well know, the debate is not with Guatemala. Our debate is rather with Condoleezza Rica. You should know by now it is the U.S. government that is doing it’s best and putting pressure in order to prevent Venezuela from becoming a member of the Security Council. They are desperate. Condoleezza Rice personally left her schedule aside and has dedicated herself to this alone.”