Story highlights Nicolas Maduro to be sworn in Friday as interim president

Chavez, who had cancer, died at 58 on Tuesday; the funeral is set for Friday

Chavez's body "will be surrounded by crystal glass forever," Maduro says

The body of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will eventually be displayed publicly "just like Lenin (and) Mao Zedong," the country's vice president said Thursday on state-run TV.

"The body of our leader will be embalmed, and it will ... be surrounded by crystal glass forever, present forever, and always with his people," Nicolas Maduro said.

Maduro will be sworn in as interim president in a special session of the National Assembly at 7 p.m. Friday, said National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello on Thursday on Venezuelan state broadcaster VTV.

The funeral for Chavez, who died at 58 Tuesday after a battle with cancer, will be held Friday in the capital, Caracas.

Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A man adjusts a banner before the start of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's funeral outside the Military Academy on Friday, March 8, in Caracas. Uncertainty swirled around what happens next in Venezuela as the deeply divided South American country mourned its late leader. Chavez, 58, died Tuesday, March 5, after a battle with cancer. Hide Caption 1 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A woman wraps up in Venezuela's flag to stay warm as she and others wait in line before the start of Chavez's funeral on March 8 in the capital. Hide Caption 2 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Chavez's coffin is carried Wednesday, March 6, to the Military Academy for his funeral in Caracas. Hide Caption 3 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Throngs of Chavez supporters accompany the coffin of the deceased Venezuelan president as it arrives at the Military Academy in Caracas on March 6. Hide Caption 4 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Crowds in Quito, Ecuador, gather around a large photograph of Chavez to pay their respects to the deceased president on March 6. Ecuador's left-leaning president, Rafael Correa, was a Chavez ally. Hide Caption 5 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A woman watches as Chavez's casket is driven through the streets of Caracas on March 6. Hide Caption 6 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A man reacts at Plaza Bolivar of Caracas, on March 6. Hide Caption 7 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Members of the military escort Chavez's casket down the streets of Caracas on March 6. Hide Caption 8 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Riot police contain the crowds looking on as Chavez's casket is driven through the streets of Caracas on March 6. Hide Caption 9 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Palestinians hold portraits of Chavez during a rally in front of the Venezuelan Embassy, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on March 6. Hide Caption 10 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Supporters of Chavez light candles while gathering in front of the Venezuelan Embassy in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday, March 5. Hide Caption 11 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Venezuelans in Caracas react to the news of Chavez's death on March 5. Hide Caption 12 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Venezuelan Defense Minister Diego Molero speaks in Caracas on March 5. He said that the Venezuelan people must fight for Chavez's legacy. Hide Caption 13 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Chavez supporters hold pictures of the late president as they gather on March 5 in front of the Military Hospital in Caracas. Hide Caption 14 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Venezuelans ride motorcycles through Caracas after the announcement of Chavez's death on March 5. Hide Caption 15 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A man mourns the death of Chavez outside the Military Hospital in Caracas on March 5. Hide Caption 16 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Venezuelans shout in the streets of the capital on March 5. Hide Caption 17 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A Venezuelan woman adjusts the television while watching the news of Chavez's death on March 5 inside a Venezuelan restaurant in Panama City, Panama. Hide Caption 18 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – Many people in Caracas wept openly as news of Chavez's death spread on March 5. Hide Caption 19 of 20 Photos: Photos: Venezuela in transition After Chavez: Venezuela in transition – A man walks past a mural in Caracas portraying the South American liberator Simon Bolivar, the Venezuelan flag and Chavez on March 5. Hide Caption 20 of 20

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Attendees are expected to include Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Cuban leader Raul Castro and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Maduro said.

Venezuela is slated to hold elections 30 days after Chavez died, according to Foreign Minister Elias Jaua.

Maduro did not say when Chavez's final resting place, at a military museum, will be ready. But people still will be able to view Chavez's body -- lying in state in a wooden casket at a military academy in the capital -- for at least another week, he said.

"Everybody can see him without any limits," Maduro said. "We want anyone who wants to see him to have the chance to do so."

The South American nation is in a seven-day period of mourning, with schools closed for the week.

Chavez's body later will be displayed much like the remains of former revolutionary leaders Vladimir Lenin of Russia and China's Mao, Maduro said.