Vice-President Nicolas Maduro - who is acting as president - will be the candidate for the governing socialist party (PSUV).

BBC: Hugo Chavez's body to stay on display in Venezuela

Opinion polls say the government's candidate - acting President Nicolas Maduro - has a strong lead over his rival.

BBC: Venezuela election: Capriles supporters in Caracas march

Suddenly Anwar, 49, was deputy prime minister, finance minister, acting prime minister, acting home affairs minister and -- most significant -- acting president of the dominant United Malays National Organization (UMNO).

CNN: A DAY IN THE LIFE

"I give you my full support, " says Estrada, "not because you are appointing me acting president, " - laughter - but because we are very proud of you for winning the award for the country.

CNN: DAYS OF THEIR LIVES

The just-named acting CFO, GM Executive Vice President John D.

FORBES: The Informer

In 1970, Vice-President Anwar Sadat was sworn in as acting president of Egypt after the death of Gamal Abdel Nasser the previous day.

CNN: Monday,

It had been suggested that Nigeria's many groups of powerbrokers agreed to let him formally become acting president only because he was not seen as a threat - and would not seek to contest April's elections.

BBC: Profile: Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan

Maduro, acting president since Chavez's March 5 death, held a double-digit advantage in opinion polls just two weeks ago, but electoral officials said he got just 50.7 percent of the votes to 49.1 percent for Capriles with nearly all ballots counted.

NPR: Chavez Heir Barely Wins; Opposition Rejects Count

In Moscow, Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev said Acting President Vladimir Putin had approved new methods to press on with the three-and-a-half-month campaign, although he gave no details.

BBC: Russia rethinks Chechnya tactics

The opposition boycotted Mr Maduro's swearing-in on Friday, claiming that - under the constitution - the speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, should be the one to take over as acting president.

BBC: Venezuela opposition leader Capriles to stand in election

Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Yar'Adua's southern deputy, who became acting president in February as the country grew impatient, has already been sworn in and will soon appoint a vice-president, who may then be groomed as next year's candidate.

ECONOMIST: The death of Nigeria's president