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| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to miss swearing-in | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to miss swearing-in |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Venezuelan National Assembly has approved a request by President Hugo Chavez to postpone his inauguration for a new term in office, which was scheduled for Thursday. | The Venezuelan National Assembly has approved a request by President Hugo Chavez to postpone his inauguration for a new term in office, which was scheduled for Thursday. |
| Mr Chavez is in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery, and has suffered complications caused by a lung infection. | Mr Chavez is in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery, and has suffered complications caused by a lung infection. |
| Legislators voted to give Mr Chavez as much time as he needs to recover. | Legislators voted to give Mr Chavez as much time as he needs to recover. |
| He has not been seen in public since his last operation a month ago. | He has not been seen in public since his last operation a month ago. |
| Earlier, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro had confirmed that Mr Chavez would be unable to attend the ceremony. | Earlier, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro had confirmed that Mr Chavez would be unable to attend the ceremony. |
| Venezuela's opposition has called for the Supreme Court to rule on what should be done if Mr Chavez is absent. | Venezuela's opposition has called for the Supreme Court to rule on what should be done if Mr Chavez is absent. |
| Its leader, Henrique Capriles, says Mr Chavez should be declared absent, with the speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, taking over as interim president. | Its leader, Henrique Capriles, says Mr Chavez should be declared absent, with the speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, taking over as interim president. |
| President Chavez, who has been in power since 1999, was re-elected in October for a fourth term. | |
| The government insists that the inauguration is a mere formality for an incumbent leader. | The government insists that the inauguration is a mere formality for an incumbent leader. |
| Show of support | Show of support |
| After weeks of speculation, Mr Cabello announced to legislators that Mr Chavez had requested to be sworn in at a later date before the Supreme Court, according to Article 231 of the Constitution. | After weeks of speculation, Mr Cabello announced to legislators that Mr Chavez had requested to be sworn in at a later date before the Supreme Court, according to Article 231 of the Constitution. |
| "On the recommendation of his medical team, the process of post-operation recuperation will have to be prolonged beyond 10 January, [as a result of which] he will be unable to present himself on this date to the National Assembly." he said, reading a letter from Vice President Nicolas Maduro. | "On the recommendation of his medical team, the process of post-operation recuperation will have to be prolonged beyond 10 January, [as a result of which] he will be unable to present himself on this date to the National Assembly." he said, reading a letter from Vice President Nicolas Maduro. |
| On Monday, Mr Cabello called on Chavez supporters to take to the streets of Caracas on Thursday to show support for him. | On Monday, Mr Cabello called on Chavez supporters to take to the streets of Caracas on Thursday to show support for him. |
| He said several foreign leaders had agreed to be at the Miraflores Presidential Palace on inauguration day. | He said several foreign leaders had agreed to be at the Miraflores Presidential Palace on inauguration day. |
| But Mr Capriles urged them to stay away and not succumb to "a game by a political party", meaning Mr Chavez's ruling party. | But Mr Capriles urged them to stay away and not succumb to "a game by a political party", meaning Mr Chavez's ruling party. |
| In his most recent update on Mr Chavez, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said his condition was "stable", and he was "responding to the treatment". | In his most recent update on Mr Chavez, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said his condition was "stable", and he was "responding to the treatment". |
| Are you in Venezuela? What is your reaction to President Chavez missing his swearing-in? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Venezuela? What is your reaction to President Chavez missing his swearing-in? Send us your comments using the form below. |