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Venezuela President Chavez's cancer surgery 'successful' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Surgeons in Cuba have successfully operated on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to remove cancerous tissue, says his Vice-President Nicolas Maduro. | |
It was 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 Mr Maduro as his preferred candidate. | |
In a TV address, Mr Maduro described the president's operation as both "complex" and a "complete success". | |
The Venezuelan president had returned from cancer-related treatment in Cuba on Friday. | 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. |
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 ahead of the operation, 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. | 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". | "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. |