Venezuela to announce details, possible date, of election to replace Hugo Chavez

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela is awaiting a key ruling from the nation's elections commission about details of an upcoming vote to replace Hugo Chavez, including a date for the poll.

The constitution mandates that elections be called within 30 days of Chavez's Mar. 5 death. The expected announcement Saturday by the National Election Commission comes a day after the country held a state funeral for the dead president, then swore in his hand-picked successor as interim leader.

The opposition has fiercely opposed the transition as an unconstitutional power grab. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles says his side is studying its strategy for the vote.

Nicolas Maduro is acting president and the announced candidate of Chavez's ruling Socialist Party. He says an opposititon boycott of the vote would be "a grave error."