MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince Edward visits Uruguay and Chile.

Prince Edward will be visiting Uruguay and Chile beginning next week. In Uruguay he will participate in the taking office ceremony of elected President Tabare Vazquez Tuesday March 1.

This is the first time ever that a coalition of left leaning forces wins Congressional and presidential elections in Uruguay and among the personalities of the 130 delegations that will be present are Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Venezuela's Hugo Chávez; Chile's Ricardo Lagos and the Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and wife Letizia.

United States will be represented by Labour Secretary Elaine Chao.

President George Bush this Friday phoned elected president Vazquez and congratulated him for the coming March 1 ceremony and wished success to the incoming administration and Uruguayan people.

Prince Edward, 40, is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and seventh in the succession line. The Count of Wessex married Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999 and have a daughter, Louise.

Edward will be arriving in Santiago Wednesday evening for a two days visit and has meetings scheduled with President Lagos, Foreign Affairs minister Ignacio Walker.