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January 14, 2013

Venezuela: Chavez is responding to cancer treatment

The Associated Press Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — Thousands of supporters of Venezuela’s cancer-stricken president held rallies across the nation Sunday, hours before the government announced that Hugo Chavez is responding favorably to treatment for a respiratory infection.

The rallies came amid complaints by the opposition that it was unconstitutional for the government to indefinitely postpone the socialist leader’s inauguration, which had been set for Thursday. The opposition also has been demanding the government provide more information about Chavez’s medical condition.

Venezuelan authorities have said Chavez is suffering from a severe respiratory infection that he contracted after undergoing a fourth round of surgery on Dec. 11 in Cuba for a cancer in the pelvic area first diagnosed on June 8, 2011.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said Sunday night that Chavez is conscious and responding to treatment for the respiratory infection at a Cuban hospital, although he gave no specifics of Chavez’s treatment or condition.

“The respiratory infection is under control,” but Chavez “still requires specific measures for a solution to respiratory insufficiency,” he said, reading a statement on state television.

“The president is conscious, communicating with his family, his political team and the medical team treating him,” Villegas said.

Chavez, who was re-elected Oct. 7, hasn’t spoken publicly or been seen since the operation, leading to anxiety among Venezuelans about the country. If he is unable to take office, Venezuela’s constitution says new elections must be called within 30 days.

On Saturday, Villegas said that Vice President Nicolas Maduro, who has been designed by Chavez as his successor, had met with Venezuela’s leader since flying to Cuba on Friday.

“Maduro reports that he gave the president a report about the demonstrations of the people’s support,” Villegas said in a message posted on Twitter.

In Caracas on Sunday, Elias Jaua, a close Chavez confidant and former vice president, urged a crowd of government supporters to “be active in defense of the constitution, in defense of Commander Hugo Chavez’s popular mandate.”

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