'Hugo Chavez is still Venezuela's president'

Venezuela's constitution does not have a time limit within which the presidential inauguration must take place, according to the author and historian Richard Gott.

Venezuela's Supreme Court has already ruled that the postponement of the inauguration, which was due to take place on Thursday, is legal. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles accepted the ruling as binding, but said it did not end the uncertainty facing Venezuela.

Hugo Chavez remains in hospital in Cuba, after undergoing cancer surgery.

Mr Gott told BBC News that should Vice-President Nicolas Maduro succeed Mr Chavez as president, new elections would be ordered within 30 days.