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Venezuela's Chavez undergoing cancer operation in Cuba Venezuela's Chavez undergoing cancer operation in Cuba
(35 minutes later)
Surgeons in Cuba have begun operating on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to remove cancerous tissue, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas has said.Surgeons in Cuba have begun operating on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to remove cancerous tissue, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas has said.
It is the president's fourth cancer-related operation since June 2011.It is the president's fourth cancer-related operation since June 2011.
At the weekend, Mr Chavez spoke for the first time about a possible successor, naming Vice-President Nicolas Maduro as his preferred candidate.At the weekend, Mr Chavez spoke for the first time about a possible successor, naming Vice-President Nicolas Maduro as his preferred candidate.
The medical team operating on Mr Chavez said they were "optimistic" about the outcome of the operation.The medical team operating on Mr Chavez said they were "optimistic" about the outcome of the operation.
Mr Chavez had returned from cancer-related treatment in Cuba on Friday. Mr Villegas appeared on Venezuelan television to explain that surgery was under way.
Mr Chavez, he said, had "absolute confidence he will overcome the obstacles that have emerged in the path of life".
The Venezuelan president had returned from cancer-related treatment in Cuba on Friday.
He left again from Caracas early on Monday after being granted permission by the National Assembly to leave the country for treatment.He left again from Caracas early on Monday after being granted permission by the National Assembly to leave the country for treatment.
It is his third operation to remove cancerous tissue from the pelvic area. The illness was first detected during an initial surgery for a pelvic abscess in June 2011. The illness was first detected during an initial surgery for a pelvic abscess in June 2011.
'Delicate operation''Delicate operation'
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa visited Mr Chavez in Havana prior to his operation but has since returned to Ecuador.Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa visited Mr Chavez in Havana prior to his operation but has since returned to Ecuador.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said the surgery was "a very delicate operation".Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said the surgery was "a very delicate operation".
"My friend and colleague, Commander Hugo Chavez, is going through the toughest times of his life," Mr Correa was quoted as saying."My friend and colleague, Commander Hugo Chavez, is going through the toughest times of his life," Mr Correa was quoted as saying.
During the weekend, Mr Chavez himself had acknowledged the seriousness of the situation after tests had detected more cancerous cells in the pelvic area.During the weekend, Mr Chavez himself had acknowledged the seriousness of the situation after tests had detected more cancerous cells in the pelvic area.
"There are risks. Who can deny it?" he said in a televised speech on Saturday."There are risks. Who can deny it?" he said in a televised speech on Saturday.
Mr Chavez added that if his health failed and new elections had to be held, people should vote for Mr Maduro, a former bus driver and one of the president's closest advisers.Mr Chavez added that if his health failed and new elections had to be held, people should vote for Mr Maduro, a former bus driver and one of the president's closest advisers.
"He is a complete revolutionary, a man of great experience despite his youth, with great dedication and capacity for work," Mr Chavez said."He is a complete revolutionary, a man of great experience despite his youth, with great dedication and capacity for work," Mr Chavez said.
In his first speech since being named as Mr Chavez's successor, a tearful Mr Maduro thanked the president.
"We are eternally grateful to Chavez. We will be loyal to Chavez beyond this lifetime," he said, adding: "We are the children of Chavez".
Mr Chavez, who was re-elected in October for a fourth term as president, is due to begin his new six-year term in office on 10 January.Mr Chavez, who was re-elected in October for a fourth term as president, is due to begin his new six-year term in office on 10 January.
The constitution states that should the president leave office in the first four years of his term, an election must be held within 30 days.The constitution states that should the president leave office in the first four years of his term, an election must be held within 30 days.