Hugo Chavez battles lung infection in Cuba hospital
Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, is suffering from
from "complications"
brought on by a "severe lung infection" which developed after surgery,
officials say
Mr Chavez, 58, had his fourth operation for cancer in Cuba on 11 December and then developed a respiratory infection.
In a statement from Caracas, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said the infection had "led to a respiratory insufficiency".
Mr Chavez is due to be sworn in for another term in office on 10 January.
"[Mr] Chavez has faced complications as a consequence of a severe lung infection," said Mr Villegas.
ANALYSIS FROM OUR LATEST SOURCES
Venezuela's government insists it is doing its duty in keeping people informed on the health of Hugo Chavez, angry at persistent rumours that the president's condition is worse than it is reporting.
But this latest statement confirms only that Mr Chavez has breathing difficulties, following what it now calls a "severe lung infection": There is still no word on his prognosis, or - crucially - on plans for next week's presidential inauguration.
What does seem clear, by its omission, is that there has been no obvious improvement since the last report, so it must now be very unlikely that Mr Chavez can be sworn back into office on 10 January. We can only assume that the looming power vacuum is what drew National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello to Havana on Thursday, joining Vice President Maduro at Mr Chavez's bedside.
On his return, Mr Cabello insisted: "We know what we will do." But so far, nobody else seems to.
Mr Chavez, 58, had his fourth operation for cancer in Cuba on 11 December and then developed a respiratory infection.
In a statement from Caracas, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said the infection had "led to a respiratory insufficiency".
Mr Chavez is due to be sworn in for another term in office on 10 January.
"[Mr] Chavez has faced complications as a consequence of a severe lung infection," said Mr Villegas.
ANALYSIS FROM OUR LATEST SOURCES
Venezuela's government insists it is doing its duty in keeping people informed on the health of Hugo Chavez, angry at persistent rumours that the president's condition is worse than it is reporting.
But this latest statement confirms only that Mr Chavez has breathing difficulties, following what it now calls a "severe lung infection": There is still no word on his prognosis, or - crucially - on plans for next week's presidential inauguration.
What does seem clear, by its omission, is that there has been no obvious improvement since the last report, so it must now be very unlikely that Mr Chavez can be sworn back into office on 10 January. We can only assume that the looming power vacuum is what drew National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello to Havana on Thursday, joining Vice President Maduro at Mr Chavez's bedside.
On his return, Mr Cabello insisted: "We know what we will do." But so far, nobody else seems to.
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