Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro is to represent President Hugo Chávez during the opening of the Constitutional Assembly in Ecuador, a diplomatic source told Efe on Friday.

A spokesman of the Venezuelan embassy to Ecuador noted that during the ceremony, which would be held in Montecristi, in western Ecuador, Caracas will be represented by the Foreign Minister.

The source, who is in the Ecuadorian port city of Manta already waiting for Maduro, said that Chávez would not attend, despite his visit had been confirmed two days earlier.
 
A source of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Thursday that Chávez canceled his participation in the ceremony at Montecristi due to Venezuela's internal situation ahead of a referendum to be held next Sunday.