The former Miss Universe Irene Saez could lose the backing of her party, the Christian Democrats COPEI, as presidential candidate in Venezuela today.

COPEI is expected to join forces with the other main traditional party, Democratic Action Accion Democratica, in backing a single independent candidate, Henrique Salas Romer.

Mr. Salas is thought by correspondents to be the only candidate capable of challenging former coup leader Hugo Chavez in presidential elections due to take place on Sunday 6 October.