Chávez to seek re-election

Venezuela's next presi-dential election will be held in October 2012, the country's elections chief said Tuesday.

President Hugo Chávez, who was first elected in 1998, is seeking another six-year term. The election had been expected in late 2012, though the date had been unclear.

The National Elections Council's board of directors voted unanimously to hold the election on October 7, said Tibisay Lucena, the council's president.

Lucena told a news conference that elections for state governors will be held in December 2012, and that municipal elections to choose mayors and city councils will be held in April 2013. The specific dates have not yet been determined, she said.

Chávez, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, said earlier

Tuesday that he will be "renewed, refreshed and strengthened" in time for his campaign.

A coalition of opposition parties has agreed to pick a single presidential contender in a February 12 primary.

Chávez said Tuesday he expects to undergo a fourth phase of chemotherapy to prevent cancer from reappearing and that it should be the last round.

Chávez says he will probably begin the treatment in the coming days and then will undergo tests to verify that no malignant cells have reappeared.

Chávez underwent an operation in June that removed a tumor from his pelvic region.

Chávez also noted that he plans to host a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Venezuela on December 2.