Venezuela's Chavez aware his condition complicated

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is aware that his condition is complicated following a fourth cancer operation in Cuba, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday, as the OPEC nation watches for clues to the socialist leader's health.               

Maduro said he was returning to Venezuela after spending several days alongside Chavez and members of the president's family. That may help squelch rumors his visit was a sign that the former soldier was near death.               

"During these days I was able to see him twice and speak with him," Maduro said during an interview from Havana with regional television network Telesur. "He is completely conscious of the complexity of his post-operative state and he expressly asked us keep the people informed."               

Maduro said that Chavez has had moments where he has made slight improvements but other times, remained the same.               

"We are confronting a situation in which the president is being tended to, he has a set series of treatments, he is in a complex situation and we are, at all times, waiting for his positive evolution. There have been times when he has had slight improvements and sometimes, we have found ourselves in a situation where he is just stable," he said.               

Maduro, who Chavez last month designated as his successor, said the president had grasped his hand "with immense strength" as they spoke, and asked him about the state of the economy and the swearing-in of newly elected governors.               

He also called on Chavez supporters to erase rumors and to trust in the information that was being given.               

"If our commander is facing this battle with strength, we too have to have the same strength. 

We need to immune ourselves from the lies.  We need to erase the lies, erase the rumors.  And that right-wing (referring to the opposition) needs to reflect, if they still have any grey matter left to use for reflecting or if they have in their heart any kind of human sentiment. 

They need to respect  the people, the family of Commander Chavez, his parents, his brothers, they need to respect us.  And well, we have to follow the path of solidarity and of work," Maduro said.               

The president suffered unexpected bleeding as result of  the complex, six-hour operation on his pelvic region Dec. 11, and later had to fight off a respiratory infection.               

On Sunday, Maduro had said the 58-year-old Chavez was suffering a third set of complications as a result of the respiratory problem.               

Chavez's son-in-law, who also serves as science minister, on Monday said the president was in stable condition and urged Venezuelans to ignore rumors of his impending death.               

Chavez has never said what type of cancer he has. His death or resignation due to illness would roil politics in Venezuela, where his personalized brand of oil-financed socialism has made him a hero to the poor majority but a nemesis to critics who call him a dictator.               

If Chavez stepped down, new elections would be called within 30 days. Maduro would be the ruling Socialist Party candidate.               

Chavez's condition is also being watched closely by Latin American countries that have benefited from his generous assistance, as well as Wall Street investors who are drawn to Venezuela's lucrative and heavily traded bonds.               

He is due to be sworn in again in Venezuela on Jan. 10 after winning re-election in October. But Socialist Party officials have suggested the ceremony could be delayed if he were unable to return in time.               

Opposition leaders say postponing it would show Chavez is not fit to govern and that new elections should be held to choose his replacement.


REUTERS