Nauru will hold a state funeral this Sunday for President Bernard Dowiyogo who died in a Washington DC hospital on Sunday after undergoing emergency heart surgery last week.
A spokesperson from the President's Office says Derog Gioura is the acting President.
The Electoral Office says that a by election will be held for President Dowiyogo's electorate of Udenide after which parliament will vote for a new leader.
The Electoral office says the go ahead for a by election will come from the Acting President.
Mr Dowiyoga had been on an official visit to the United States when he was rushed to hospital .
In January the 57 year old had been elected President of Nauru for the sixth time.
