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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Venezuela's Chavez 'conscious' says VP Nicolas Maduro | Venezuela's Chavez 'conscious' says VP Nicolas Maduro |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is conscious but in a "delicate and complex situation" after a cancer operation in Cuba, his deputy says. | Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is conscious but in a "delicate and complex situation" after a cancer operation in Cuba, his deputy says. |
| Vice-President Nicolas Maduro said he had seen the president twice in the past two days. | Vice-President Nicolas Maduro said he had seen the president twice in the past two days. |
| The 58-year-old president has been in power since 1999 and was elected for a fourth term in office in October. | The 58-year-old president has been in power since 1999 and was elected for a fourth term in office in October. |
| He is due to be sworn in for a new term on 10 January, but it is unclear if he will be able to attend ceremony. | He is due to be sworn in for a new term on 10 January, but it is unclear if he will be able to attend ceremony. |
| But Mr Maduro angrily denounced speculation the president's health was failing. | But Mr Maduro angrily denounced speculation the president's health was failing. |
| Earlier, Venezuelan cabinet ministers prayed for Mr Chavez's recovery during a Mass at the presidential palace in Caracas. | Earlier, Venezuelan cabinet ministers prayed for Mr Chavez's recovery during a Mass at the presidential palace in Caracas. |
| Official New Year celebrations were called off after Mr Maduro announced the president had suffered new complications. | Official New Year celebrations were called off after Mr Maduro announced the president had suffered new complications. |
| Rumours denounced | Rumours denounced |
| Speaking in Havana, Mr Maduro said he had visited Mr Chavez in hospital twice since arriving on Saturday. | Speaking in Havana, Mr Maduro said he had visited Mr Chavez in hospital twice since arriving on Saturday. |
| "We have faith in God and in the doctors that Hugo Chavez will continue to make progress and sooner or later will emerge from this complex and delicate post-operative state he is in," he told the Latin American satellite network Telesur. | "We have faith in God and in the doctors that Hugo Chavez will continue to make progress and sooner or later will emerge from this complex and delicate post-operative state he is in," he told the Latin American satellite network Telesur. |
| But he gave very little further concrete information about the condition of the president, who underwent his operation on 11 December. | But he gave very little further concrete information about the condition of the president, who underwent his operation on 11 December. |
| He said Mr Chavez gripped his hand "with enormous strength" as they spoke, discussing political matters, the economy in Venezuela and the swearing-in of new governors following regional elections. | |
| He denounced what he called right-wing media rumours about Mr Chavez's health as the work of "mentally ill" people, saying they were inventing and manipulating information without respect for Mr Chavez or his family. | He denounced what he called right-wing media rumours about Mr Chavez's health as the work of "mentally ill" people, saying they were inventing and manipulating information without respect for Mr Chavez or his family. |
| Earlier this year, the president said he had been cleared of a cancer diagnosed in 2011 and was fit to serve out his six-year term. | Earlier this year, the president said he had been cleared of a cancer diagnosed in 2011 and was fit to serve out his six-year term. |
| But on 11 December, he went through his fourth cancer operation in Cuba. | But on 11 December, he went through his fourth cancer operation in Cuba. |
| There are also many questions about what will happen on 10 January when Mr Chavez is due to be re-inaugurated, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana, adding that it is now three weeks since Mr Chavez has been seen or heard from. | There are also many questions about what will happen on 10 January when Mr Chavez is due to be re-inaugurated, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana, adding that it is now three weeks since Mr Chavez has been seen or heard from. |
| National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello recently said that the swearing-in ceremony would be delayed in the case of Mr Chavez's absence. | National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello recently said that the swearing-in ceremony would be delayed in the case of Mr Chavez's absence. |
| But the opposition says such move would be unconstitutional. | But the opposition says such move would be unconstitutional. |
| The Venezuelan constitutions states that a new election should be called in 30 days should the president not be fit enough to attend his inauguration, the opposition argues. | The Venezuelan constitutions states that a new election should be called in 30 days should the president not be fit enough to attend his inauguration, the opposition argues. |
| Are you in Venezuela? What is your reaction to the news? Send us your comments. |