The new acting president has a reputation of being someone who is independent.
The opposition has asked whether Elías Jaua, the vice-president, should be made acting president, but Mr Jaua says that is unnecessary.
Roza Otunbayeva, the acting president said that the country needed outside help and appealed to Russia to send peacekeeping troops.
Opinion polls suggest the country's acting president Nicolas Maduro is likely to win. He was chosen by Mr. Chavez as his successor.
WEARING the wide-brimmed hat favoured by tribal chiefs in his corner of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan this week assumed office as the country’s acting president.
