MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS elects Secretary General April 7

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, OAS, decided this Wednesday to call an extraordinary General Assembly next April 7 when the new Secretary General will be nominated.

The date was arrived after lengthy consultations among representatives from the three main candidates' countries, Mexico, Chile and El Salvador.

Candidates are Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez; Chilean Minister of Interior Jose Miguel Insulza and former El Salvador president Francisco Flores.

The OAS Secretary General post has been vacant since last October when former Costa Rica president Miguel Angel Rodríguez was forced to resign following corruption charges in his country.

Mr. Insulza has the backing of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela; Mr. Flores from most Central American countries and United States.

However Mr. Derbez could prove the compromise consensus candidate.