MEXICO CITY, Dec. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Former Salvadorean President Francisco Flores considered his candidacy as the "most solid" in the elections for secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Salvadorean daily La Prensa Grafica reported Saturday.

    Flores said in an interview with the newspaper that the presence of other candidates is "the most natural thing," but he was confident about the race.

    Within the framework of the Ibero-American Summit last month inCosta Rica, Flores was elected as the candidate of Central American countries, except Honduras which said Flores was not elected with a consensus as originally agreed.

    Flores has said he would count on the backing of the Central American countries, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia and the United States.

    Mexico and Chile announced their candidates for the OAS post this week, namely, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Derbez and Chilean Interior Minister Jose Insulza.

    Chilean daily La Tercera quoted Insulza as reporting on Saturday that the Chilean government was a little surprised about Derbez' candidacy

    As for his own campaign, Insulza said, "With Brazil and Argentina I have always had good relationship, and I am confidentthey will support me." He hoped to gain support from all of South America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

    Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar Faja said Saturday his country will not support Derbez' candidacy of the OAS post.

    Tovar told the media in the capital San Jose that his country prefers to back a Central American candidate based on a consensus.

    The post of secretary-general of the OAS has been left vacant since Oct. 8 after the resignation of ex-Costa Rican president Miguel Angel Rodriguez due to a corruption scandal in his own country, where he was placed under arrest.

    Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay are among the countries seeking the post. The United States said it would prefera Central American candidate.

    The 34-member OAS, founded in 1948, groups all countries in Americas except Cuba. Enditem