MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez to be embalmed ‘for eternity’; Maduro takes the oath as ‘acting’ president

Maduro in his Venezuelan flag colours shirt and Diosdado Cabello (L), both had important announcements to make (Pic. AP)

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez will be embalmed and put on display “for eternity” at a military museum after the state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

Huge crowds are still waiting to pay their respects to Chavez after his death this week, and Maduro said the move, reminiscent of the treatment of Communist leaders Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Ho Chi Minh after their deaths, would help keep the late president's self-declared socialist revolution alive.

“It has been decided that the body of the Comandante will be embalmed so that it remains eternally on view for the people at the museum,” Maduro told state TV.

Chavez died on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer and fourteen years as president. He is now lying in state at a military academy where the government says more than 2 million supporters have viewed it since Wednesday.

Maduro said Chavez's official funeral would go ahead on Friday, attended by about 30 leaders from around the world and that his body would then lie in state for a further seven days.

Huge lines snaked around the academy on Thursday as tens of thousands of Venezuelans shuffled forward to salute, raise clenched fists or make the sign of the cross over Chavez's casket.

Chavez was dressed in an army uniform and a signature red beret like the one he wore in a 1992 speech to the nation that launched his political career after he led a failed coup.

People were given just a few seconds to glance at his body inside the relatively simple wooden coffin, which has a glass top and was draped in flowers and a Venezuelan flag.

Meanwhile the speaker of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello told state television that Maduro, 50, a former union leader will be sworn-in on Friday as ‘acting’ (caretaker) president.

The ‘Bolivarian’ constitution stipulates a poll must be called within 30 days, but politicians say election authorities may not be ready in time and there is talk of a possible delay. Chavez ruled for 14 years and won four presidential elections.

Cabello announced Maduro will perform presidential duties and call for elections within 30 days in compliance with the constitution. He added that the decision was made based on orders from PresidentChavez who passed away on Tuesday of cancer.

“We have a great desire to meet the Comandante’s instructions” Cabello said. The swearing ceremony will be held Friday at 7:00 p.m. (2330 GMT) in the Hall of Honour of the Military Academy, a few meters away from where the coffin with the remains of Chavez lay in state.

Members of the opposition have kept a low profile and offered condolences during the enormous show of support for Chavez, one of Latin America's most popular leaders.

State media have been airing old Chavez speeches and songs over and over in lengthy tributes. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua urged private Venezuelan media outlets to let “Chavistas” mourn and refrain from provoking opponents to hold rallies against the government.

Authorities blame TV channels aligned with the opposition for helping incite a 2002 coup that briefly toppled Chavez.