MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Máximo Saúl Menem born in Santiago.

The son of former Argentine president Carlos Menem and Chilean television star and former beauty queen Cecilia Bolocco was born early Wednesday morning in a private clinic of Santiago.

Mr. Menem who was in his native province of La Rioja said the child was born "normally" at 04:00 hours.

"He came before time, welcome and bless him" said Mr. Menem in an emotional interview with a local broadcasting station, "Cecilia is doing fine, it was a normal birth with no complications, thank God", added the former Argentine president who confirmed the child will be named Máximo Saúl and not Carlos Saúl as originally announced.

Mr. Menem immediately flew in a private aircraft from La Rioja to Santiago.

Senator Eduardo Menem, Mr. Menem's brother confirmed the flight and said that "Cecilia is in excellent condition and very happy, it was all very normal so it couldn't have been better".

Cecilia Bolocco was expecting the child for early December.

Mr. Menem in his seventies and the former CNN anchor person Cecilia, 37, were married in May 2001 and last April in the midst of the Argentine presidential campaign it was announced Mrs. Menem was pregnant.

From a previous marriage Mr. Menem had two children, Carlitos who died in a helicopter accident in 1995, and Zulemita married and living in Italy.