Mourning Venezuelans parade Chavez's coffin, prepare for vote

The coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is driven through the streets of Caracas after leaving the military hospital where he died of cancer in Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Weeping and shouting, a sea of Hugo Chavez's supporters paraded his coffin through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday in an emotional outpouring that could help his deputy win an election and keep his self-styled socialist revolution alive. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is driven through the streets of Caracas after leaving the military hospital where he died of cancer, in Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is driven through the streets of Caracas after leaving the military hospital where he died of cancer, in Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

In this photo released by Miraflores Presidential Press Office, Venezuela's Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, wearing a yellow jacket, walks alongside the flag-draped coffin carrying the remains of the late President Hugo Chavez, along with supporters of Chavez, as it is paraded from the hospital where he died on Tuesday to a military academy where his body will lie in state in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Seven days of mourning were declared, all schools were suspended for the week and friendly heads of state were expected for an elaborate funeral Friday. -- PHOTO: AP

People follow the coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez as it is driven through the streets of Caracas after leaving the military hospital where he died of cancer, in Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Rosa Virginia Chavez (left), daughter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and her husband Jorge Arreaza wave from inside a bus upon their arrival at the Military Academy, on March 6, 2013, in Caracas. The flag-draped coffin of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was borne through throngs of weeping supporters on Wednesday as the nation bade farewell to the firebrand leftist who led them for 14 years. -- PHOTO: AFP

Bolivian Presidente Evo Morales (second from left), the President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello (centre) and Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro (second from right) accompany the funeral cortege of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez upon its arrival at the Military Academy, on March 6, 2013, in Caracas. The flag-draped coffin of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was borne through throngs of weeping supporters on Wednesday as the nation bade farewell to the firebrand leftist who led them for 14 years. -- PHOTO: AFP

The President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello (centre) raises his clenched fist in salutation as he accompanies the funeral cortege of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on its way to the Military Academy, on March 6, 2013, in Caracas. The flag-draped coffin of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was borne through throngs of weeping supporters on Wednesday as a nation bade farewell to the firebrand leftist who led them for 14 years. . -- PHOTO: AFP

A supporter (right) of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez holds a picture of him as fellow supporters gather to watch his coffin being driven through the streets of Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello (left) accompanies the funeral cortege of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on its way to the Military Academy, on March 6, 2013, in Caracas. The flag-draped coffin of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was borne through throngs of weeping supporters on Wednesday as the nation bade farewell to the firebrand leftist who led them for 14 years. -- PHOTO: AFP

Venezuela's Vice-President Nicolas Maduro (right) and Bolivian President Evo Morales walk ahead of the vehicle carrying the coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, as it is driven through the streets of Caracas after leaving the military hospital where he died of cancer in Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez hang portraits of him from their homes as his coffin was driven through the streets of Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

An embassy employee lowers the Venezuelan flag in honor of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela's embassy in Panama City on March 6, 2013. Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer that was first detected in his pelvis. His body will be taken to a military academy on Wednesday to lie in state for three days before a state funeral. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez carry portraits of him and independence hero Simon Bolivar as Chavez's coffin was driven through the streets of Caracas, on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chaves will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A woman holding a Venezuelan flag cries as she watches the coffin containing the body of the late President Hugo Chavez be taken from the hospital, where he died on Tuesday, to a military academy in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Seven days of mourning were declared, all schools were suspended for the week and friendly heads of state were expected for an elaborate funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: AP

A supporter of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cries during a homage gathering in Madrid, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Some marked Chavez's death with tears; others with cheers. There was deep mourning in Latin American countries. Chavez, who died on Tuesday, was seen as a hero by some for his socialist programs, his anti-US rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil. -- PHOTO: AP

Mourners pay their respects to deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a ceremony at Venezuela's embassy in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Cuba’s government praised Chavez following his death yesterday for uniting the people of Latin America and pledged loyalty to the continuation of his Bolivarian Revolution, according to the statement in the state-run Granma website. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

A man writes a note in a book of condolence at Venezuela's embassy in Panama City, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Many Latin Americans mourned the Tuesday death of Chavez, leaders in Europe and Asia sent condolences, and Iran's president predicted great works in the afterlife. -- PHOTO: AP

The foot of a rural worker holds down a banner in support of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez outside Venezuela's embassy in Brasilia, Brazil, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Many Latin Americans mourned the Tuesday death of Chavez, leaders in Europe and Asia sent condolences, and Iran's president predicted great works in the afterlife. -- PHOTO: AP

A man wearing an "I Am Chavez" tee shirt stands with other mourners during a ceremony commemorating the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the Venezuelan Embassy in Havana, Cuba on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Cuba’s government praised Chavez’s goal of uniting the people of Latin America and pledged loyalty to the continuation of his Bolivarian Revolution, according to the statement in the state-run Granma website. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

A supporter of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez holds a flower as Chavez's coffin arrives at the Military Academy, where his wake will be held, in Caracas on March 6, 2013. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez's remains will be buried after his state funeral on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A man wearing a Venezuelan flag on his arm holds a photograph of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez at the Venezuelan embassy in Panama City, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Many Latin Americans mourned the Tuesday death of Chavez, leaders in Europe and Asia sent condolences, and Iran's president predicted great works in the afterlife. -- PHOTO: AP

People arrive to sign a condolence book for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Venezuelan embassy in Guatemala on March 6, 2013. Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer that was first detected in his pelvis. His body will be taken to a military academy on Wednesday to lie in state for three days before a state funeral. Seen is the Venezuelan national flag. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez writes a message in a book of condolences next to a photograph of the late president at the Venezuelan embassy in Guatemala on March 6, 2013. Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer that was first detected in his pelvis. His body will be taken to a military academy on Wednesday to lie in state for three days before a state funeral. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Supporters of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shout slogans during a homage gathering in Madrid, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Some marked Chavez's death with tears; others with cheers. There was deep mourning in Latin American countries. Chavez, who died on Tuesday, was seen as a hero by some for his socialist programs, his anti-US rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil. -- PHOTO: AP

Palestinian hold posters depicting Venezuela's late president Hugo Chavez during a vigil outside the Venezuelan consulate in the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 6, 2013. Chavez supported the Palestinian statehood aspirations. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A woman holds a poster reading "Chavez, my nation's heart" during a tribute to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on March 6, 2013 at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. Venezuela was plunged into uncertainty after the death on the eve of President Hugo Chavez, who dominated the oil-rich country for 14 years and came to embody a resurgent Latin American left. -- PHOTO: AFP

A supporter of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cries during a homage gathering in Madrid, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Some marked Chavez's death with tears; others with cheers. There was deep mourning in Latin American countries. Chavez, who died on Tuesday, was seen as a hero by some for his socialist programs, his anti-US rhetoric and gifts of cut-rate oil. -- PHOTO: AP

File picture dated 21 Sept 2006 shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (right) and US actor/activist Danny Glover hugging each other while attending The CITGO-Venezuela Heating Oil Program inauguration ceremony at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Harlem, New York. Veteran US actor Danny Glover praised Hugo Chavez as a "social champion" on March 6, 2013, the latest Hollywood liberal to pay tribute to the dead Venezuelan president. He joined director Oliver Stone, Sean Penn and Michael Moore in hailing Chavez, who died March 5, 2013 aged 58, issuing a statement "in sadness and in tribute to my friend". -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

This May 28, 2010 file photo shows the Camilo Cienfuegos oil refinery in Cienfuegos, Cuba. Part of the Cuban government's effort, with Venezuela, to rehabilitate and modernize the area's oil refinery, is to build three additional loading docks and a terminal large enough to accommodate modern supertankers by 2014 at its port in Cienfuegos. Now nervous Cubans are worrying about a return of hard times following the March 5, 2013 death of Chavez, whose billions of dollars of oil largesse helped the island's economy function. More than a dozen countries besides Cuba in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of them economic minnows, have benefited to the tune of billions of dollars from the Petrocaribe pact, created in 2005 with the goal of unifying the regional oil industry under Venezuelan leadership and countering US influence. -- FILE PHOTO: AP