Marisabel (R), wife of former coup leader and leading Venezuelan presidential candidate Hugo Chavez greets ex-Miss Universe Irene Saez, also a presidential candidate, before a private meeting between candidates Chavez and Saez November 26. The meeting took place in a confused political climate with the country's two traditional parties, including center-right Copei, which backs Saez' presidential candidacy, desperately seeking to save their flagging campaigns and possibly rally behind a single candidate able to beat Chavez.

KW/ME