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AFP
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaking during a press conference in Caracas on Oct. 9.
Updated at 5:15 a.m. ET: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in stable condition and spent Monday with his daughters, the cancer-stricken leader's son-in law-said in an appeal for supporters to ignore rumors about his condition.
Chavez has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks. The vice president said on Sunday that the 58-year-old was suffering a third set of complications after surgery in Cuba on Dec. 11, his fourth operation in 18 months.
"President Chavez spent the day quietly and stable, together with his daughters," his son-in-law, Science Minister Jorge Arreaza, wrote on Twitter from Havana, where the family has been at the president's bedside.
Arreaza urged his countrymen not to "believe in ill-intentioned rumors" about the president's health.
On New Year's Eve, a major party in Caracas was quickly turned into a more somber gathering. Jacqueline Faría, head of the Capital District governing Caracas, canceled a free concert, calling instead for Venezuelans to "unite in prayer" for Chavez and to include his "prompt recovery" among their wishes for 2013.
On Monday afternoon, Venezuela state television began airing a live Catholic mass for Chavez that was being held at the Palacio de Miraflores, the building that houses presidential work offices. Meantime, the Ministry of Communications was organizing a massive prayer meeting at San Francisco Church at 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) and other Chavez supporters were planning a political rally at 6 p.m. at Plaza Bolivar.
On Sunday night, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro delivered a somber address to the nation from Havana, Cuba, where Chavez, 58, remains hospitalized after his fourth operation for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Maduro, flanked by one of Chavez’s daughters, Rosa Virginia, and her husband, Arreaza, read a prepared statement revealing that the Venezuelan president was now suffering "new complications" stemming from a respiratory infection he contracted after an operation on Dec. 11.
Archival video: Venezuela's controversial president Hugo Chavez -- who makes no secret of his dislike for the US -- was re-elected to an unprecedented third term, fending off a serious challenge to win decisively, 54 to 45 percent. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports from Caracas. October, 2012.
These problems developed on top of profuse bleeding Chavez experienced during the six-hour surgery in Havana. Chavez has been battling cancer for the past 18 months — flying to Cuba for surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
Maduro indicated that Chavez was conscious and able to speak, dispelling rumors circulating earlier in the day that claimed Chavez was only breathing with the help of a respirator and close to death.
Sept. 20: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush "the devil." NBC's David Gregory reports.
"Just a few minutes ago we were with President Chavez," said Maduro. "We greeted each other and he himself talked about these complications."
Again Sunday evening, Maduro described Chavez’s condition as "delicate" and with "risks" while warning the nation to prepare for difficult times. Chavez has not been seen since his surgery three weeks ago and no additional information on his condition has appeared in Cuba’s state-run media.
"We trust that the avalanche of love and solidarity with Comandante Chavez, together with his immense will to live and the care of the best medical specialists, will help our president win this new battle," Maduro said.
For the moment, Maduro remains in Havana and said he was spending time with Chavez's medical team and relatives.
NBC News' Mary Murray and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Best Wishes to Hugo Chavez for health recovery. But thanks in part to his administration, Argentina has been the forerunner of horrendous economic times since long before things hit the global economy.
Argentines will be surprised that the President of Venezuela had such an affect on their country.
Usher? Somebody need an usher?
Usher? What kinda mamma would name her little rapper son Usher? What did he do wrong to his mamma? Reminds me of the girl rocker named Hole. BWAAhahaha. Hole.
Hugo, approaching a physical cliff of sorts...
Hugo sounds like he is ready to go over the cliff at any minute.
No tears from me.
Somebody said his 'cancer' was AIDS!
It looks like 2013 is already starting off well in some parts of the world!
Sees through Gloss.
You might try having your X-ray specs checked.
I hope he dies and fast.
Indymaverick
And the same to you. If you can not take it, don't dish it out - a**hole!!!
To those of you who are castigating Chavez, I thought, rather mistakenly, that we as Americans were a whole load bigger than this. maybe you guys need to move to N Korea?
Happy New Year
To those of you admiring Chavez, please feel free to move to N Korea!
ed what about him dont you like.please be specific.he attacked....no that was us.....he bombed....no that was us.he spent a huge amount on his countries infrastructure and helped his countries poor.wait we do the same
Please refer to post #5.7.
I bet Sean Penn and Danny Glover will be grieving when this commie b_tch dies. LOL!
hahahahahaha, "STABLE" the man doesn't even know the meaning of stable, and he's definitely far from ever being or becoming mentally stable in this or the next 1000 lifetimes over.
Chavez is not that much different from most other central and South American leaders, be they dictators or elected. He makes political points for bad mouthing the US to his constituents, it is popular to do that in every country south of the Rio Grand. The best thing we in the US could ever have done with Chavez was to just ignore him like he did not exist, and for all practical purposes if we did ignore him he would not matter. Venezuela would continue to drill for oil and we would continue to buy it, just like we do now. Chavez just doesn't matter to the US.
Does anybody really care? Just asking since he is such a "nice" man.
If history is any indicator the State Dept is already hard at work getting their candidate ready.
Got a little "chuckle" from the comment that he received his state of the art medical care from Havana. I guess that it's been a secret that all the greatest "docs" and technology in the world exist in Havana. Where has the United States been for the last forty years. Must be all the docs from our great cancer centers have been training down at this great place for intellectuals. maybe they have been experimenting with their state of the art" 1950's automobiles that are the mainstay for transportation. or perhaps its the scientific equipment they order from Mattel to do their laboratory work. I didn't know that Havanas state of the art communications system of soup cans and string has been such a technological leap that even Argentina is considering a copy in the Presidential Palace. Hate to tell you Hugo...there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and the reaper can't wait to take you for your ride into your hellish eternity. Adios fatman! And my adios is to say good riddens, not farewell.
It must be a slow news day, Chavez is going to die like everybody else on the planet.
The sooner, the better ................. fuc--ng swamp guinea. May he rot in hell and take his buddy Fidel Castro with him!
What?!?! His cancer treatments in Cuba didn't work! LOL!
This Computer news states there is a vigil for Chavez. The thing they left out was the vigil for or against his survival??
Aren't vigils usually held for the dead is there something they are hiding from the world?
Chavez needs to die for the greater good. He has robbed, killed, and pillaged his country long enough. As for the Argentines, they are all socialist/communists anyway, so let their economy fall.
musician, to put it nicely, you're a total idiot. Just because someone views things differently than you they are socialists/communists? How ignorant can you be?
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid." John Wayne
This guy is like herpes, he keeps coming back!
I suppose he keeps coming back because the majority of the citizens of Venezuela keep democratically electing him.
I wonder if he pays off his voters, too.
You mean like Obama does Bill
Sichuam, I had a Friend whos mother sat on the Venezuela supreme court. Believe me, there is no Democracy in that country. You either go with the flow or you end up in a ditch with your brains blown out. Not like that doesnt happen else where, but please dont think for one moment this man is a good person working for the people.
Karma can be real bummer, can't it Hugo?
Texas A&I you have raised stupidity to a new level.
I find it amusing in that some people above have stated how Chavez was Democratically elected more than once. I'm willing to buy the possibility that he may have been fairly elected the first time. But in that part of the world, power for the sake of power is too good to pass up. Chavez has a very effective and brutal secret police force and military that he has used to good advantage. In a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, you think people are not aware that the person next to you may be one of Chavez's secret police and taking notes as to who does and does not show the proper revolutionary spirit? You think they do not know that they and/or their family can disappear without a trace? Chavez has shown that he is not above ruling by fear and intimidation to stay in power. And spare me the comments on how the elections were monitored. It is pathetically easy to rig an election in that part of the world, no matter who is monitoring them, when you have the money and influence to stuff the boxes and buy the votes.
Excellent synopsis of the situation in the country! Nicely reasoned ED-NavDoc
Thanks rebus. Just calling it like I see it. Notice none of his supporters here have seen fit to rebut the above? (#5.7)
<cough>Who gives a ^&$% about chavez</cough> (yes, lowercase 'c')
Hopefully the POS will die soon!
In my book, anyone who wishes another person to die is the biggest POS possible.
Yeah, and I bet you felt the same way about Bush too sichuan?
I have nothing good to say about the man so I'll keep my opinions to myself, But my prayers go out to the people who have endured him
God Bless
Getting rid of one dictator seems to add a new one. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Semper Paratus.
Seems Cuba's Health Care System will be judged by whether Chavez survives his bout with the undisclosed form of Cancer.
Undisclosed Form Of Cancer... isn't that one of the deadlier forms?
Hmmmm.... I wonder whom the CIA will install as the NEXT Venezuelan dictator?
hummmmm??? your ignorance shows
dead man walking
He reminds me of the Illinois Congressman who won in a landslide even though he spent 5 months in rehab dodging federal charges.
Voters don't care. Just keep the checks coming.
They will pay in the long run with no more checks and no job skills.
Happy New Year Hugo. Do not let the door hit you in the A&* on the way out. Argentines are no different than the majority of Americans these days. Vote for the man who will give you the most of what he takes from someone else. Even if you do not pay taxes others should so you do not have to get off of your lazy ass and better yourself. Losers reproduce fastest so they will always outnumber the producers and workers. When Barry gets 10 million or so illegals citizenship that will be that many more democrats sucking off the system so those sucking on uncle sams tit now may have to share. When the country is all losers sucking on that tit 20 years from now it should be interesting.
Hugo Chavez is the President of Venezuela not Argentina.
If you are going to post on here, try educating yourself first. That way you won't look so stupid.
Chris, he's already shown how how stupid he is. By his "logic" the 55 million Republicans totally support the 86 million Democrats, which means our unemployment rate should be well in excess of 50%.
He really should wake up and realize his "logic" is in the minority. But, I'm sure that those types of facts would make his tiny brain hurt too much.
He got the country wrong, but everything else he said rings true.
And Mike, YOU added in your own math equation.
He was making a general futuristic analogy.
Happy New Year's!
Oh no, what a sad day for Obama.
??
"Oh no, what a sad day for Obama."
Such a childish, pathetic and moronic comment. Grow up.
OK! Such a great day for Obama.
Bill, you like many other morons on this site never cease to amaze me with your socialist/communist nonsense. Provide one FACT to substantiate your absurd statements. Oh, you can't? What a surprise.
"Life is tough, it's even tougher when you're stupid." John Wayne.
Get over your man crush with John Wayne! He's been dust for 40 years now!!
We can only hope that if Chavez is out of the picture, one way or the other, that the opposition wins next time. The Chavez regime has been more concerned about public works than investing in the energy infrastructure that afforded Venezuela them in the first place. I know La Systema(?), which begat conductor Gustavo Dudemel, is one of those works, but a leaner program would just mean a more competitive atmosphere. A change in regime may also mean the end of Venezuela's ingratiating participation in Joe For Oil.
The way the fools down there adore this criminal is exactly how the fools here adore Obama ... Blindly, Stupidly and without question .... Scary
The way the fools down there adore this criminal is exactly how the fools here adore Obama ... Blindly, Stupidly and without question .... Scary
Perfectly saidTexas A&I
When this country goes Bankrupt and we cannot borrow anymore money we will make Greece look like a Childs Birthday Party with Sparklers. First we need to address the problem with the 535 people in Congress who caused this mess. It is going to be very very Bad.
We can only hope! About the Congress that is.
Thank God this turd is about to be flushed.... Sooooo sad....... Hee heee
SO now, even in absenta, they are going to let Chavez suppress them.
You can bet they will be drinking shots of rum at home and wishing for a speedy death of this pig.
Happy New Year Venezuela!!!
A country I love.
Next time you vote, remember the freebies come at a cost.
What a bummer! Before the picture was taken they should've removed that tick from Huey's forehead.
sure.
Another socialist murdering thug dies.....who cares? Probably Sean Penn and Jimmy Carter.
Sean and Jimmy have already picked out flowers.
And Obama.
And don't forget Danny Glover!
And Foxx
I think its kind of strange that as the supply of Ho Ho's and twinkies dwindles he becomes sicker and sicker. Huh
Ever see that episode of "House" where one of the doctors admit to "letting" a dictator die on the operating table in a way that no one would ever suspect? He did it out of conscience and for the good of the people. Hhhmmmmmmm
Die you bastard!