Hugo Chavez 'Has More Chemotherapy'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

BBC

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is receiving chemotherapy in a Caracas hospital after cancer surgery in Cuba, the vice-president has revealed.

Nicolas Maduro was speaking after a Mass at a military hospital in honour of the president.

On Thursday, he went on TV to say Chavez was battling for his life, reports the BBC.

The Venezuelan leader, re-elected in October last year, returned to Caracas last month, but little has been heard about his condition until now.

Photos of him in smiling in bed, with his daughters beside him, were released shortly before he was flown home.

Late on Friday, a Mass was held at a new chapel at the Caracas Military Hospital, where the authorities say he was taken for treatment last week. One of the president's daughters, Maria Gabriela, and senior officials attended the Mass.

"The treatments Commander Chavez is receiving are tough, but he is stronger than them," the vice-president told reporters as he left the chapel.

He was speaking after opposition leader Henrique Capriles accused him of lying repeatedly about the president's "real situation".

As speculation mounts about the president's future, a number of students have chained themselves together in a street in the capital, insisting the government "tells the truth".

The government says Chavez is breathing with the help of a tracheal tube and meeting senior ministers from his sickbed at the military hospital.

Maduro told reporters that after a "general improvement" in his condition, the doctors had decided to start "complementary treatments".

"Do you know what complementary treatments are? They are chemotherapy that is applied to patients after operations."

He added that the president was communicating with his aides "in writing and other ways he has come up with".

"You know that President Chavez is very creative and his hands won't be tied when it comes to communicating orders, guidelines and concerns."

The 58-year-old president, who has been in office for 14 years, revealed he had cancer in June 2011 and has already had four operations, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

It is believed he has cancer in his pelvic area but his exact illness has never been disclosed.