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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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God will not hear prayers for hugo, but wait maybe john bonehead the $hit house speaker could go down there and hold hands with hugo and he could take bonehead with him, LOL LOL LOL LOL HA! HA! HA! HA!
The people of Venezuela are praying he doesn't return the way he left, alive. He's a tyrant that has taken a country so full of resources and hoarded his peoples wealth for himself and his henchmen(sound familiar). There should be absolutely no poverty, or poor in that country(as in this one). Hell, he can't even depend on his own medical personell to take care of his needs(sounds like odums**tcare). I will join in the vigil.
They will just probably "democratically" (yeah, Right!) elect another POS dictator! Hey, they will be following the US in that respect!
It's a shame for the world and the people of Venezuela that this dictator is still drawing breath going into 2013.
While I would never wish death from the horrifying ravages of cancer on anyone, the fact is that when he finally does die, he will not be missed by anyone other than his corrupt cronies and the hangers-on, thieves and murderers he controlled.
sounds like mankind from the beginning till now,and we all die sooner or later.Sad thing is a lot of people walking around are dead and dont know it.
What will they greet him with at the judgement?
so, you allowed democratic elections......................
........................and how many did you murder, maim, cripple, subjugate, humiliate, and dishearten?
They should give him radiation. Not radiation treatment, just radiation.....and lots of it.
They should re-name Venezuela's national gas company after him, Sh1tgo.
It is good to know that the murderous dictator Hugo Chavez will find out if there is an afterlife.
I wonder if he is still an atheist ?
What does it say about Venezuela's health care system when the president has to go to Cuba for treatment. I mean, Cuba? Seriously?
Cuba does have medical schools even USA students attend too ( to get a license). Cuba don't pay their doctors much, but they seem to be good doctors.
That country has a few thousand doing a vigil...and the rest of the country parting galore for him to drop dead.
Psst..can't be president for life..if your DEAD pal! Bye have a good trip to hell.
If you die as President, then you were, by definition, President for life.
If anyone deserves prayer and mercy, it's not Chavez. He's an insult and disgrace to our race and culture.
Best Wishes for his demise. Happy to hear of his ailments. Happy New Year!
If the fat son-of-a-b***h dies, where do I line up to urinate on his grave?
At your nearest Citgo station.
Senor Chavez, your soul is required in Hell!
Mourn Chavez ailment by continuing life. He'd want it that way. To hear a happy partying people. Give him alotta
music. I'm a gringo from USA. He don't like me. No big. I'm big enough and OK enough to get through his hate.
Lotta hate going around the world. To bad for the haters. Life is a treasure. Enjoy it , or, hate.
The worms crawl in the worms crawl out.....
So he has to go to Cuba for Medical care.
I really don't know the answer to this.
Is the care in Venezuela that bad?
Is it because there is a reduced security risk by leaving the country?
Some other reason?
How did Cuba become such a great medical haven? I thought they were poor.
Why not Russia, China, or N Korea.
Maybe some other nation more neutral like Thailand, they actually do have decent medical care.
JO: Actually, though there are many things I don't like about the way Cuba goes about things, they've been very smart in developing a "medical community" that is comparatively low-tech but surprisingly effective. Cuban doctors go to places that the NGOs don't bother with, and have forged effective alliances with some countries based on their generosity ( no doubt with at least some political objective ) in providing quality medical care.
Thanks Cagey-B
I still wonder how Cuba can afford the necessary equipment. We have had an economic blockade on them since I was a child and I'm 60. To purchase such equipment is pretty special.
I wonder if the common man has access to the facilities? Any info?
With a continuing stream of handouts for his lumpen proletariat constituency, this cretin has single-handedly destroyed the Venezuelan economy. His impending death cannot come too soon. One cannot help but note the similarities in style and execution of another mulatto wannabe dictator---Barack Hussein Obama II.
God Bless you Mr. Chavez, we love u will be praying 4U
I respectfully wonder, whenever Mr. Chavez dies, whether a future Venezuelan leader will dig up his body like he dug up Simon Bolivar and his sisters? Just a thought.
The last time I wrote a comment that wasn't happy that Chavez was dying, it was collapsed by the community. I repeat, many, many Venezuelans will mourn his passing. He has done more good things for the poor of his country than any leader of Venezuela in recent history. George Bush didn't like him because Chavez used his country's oil wealth to improve the lives of the ordinary Venezuelan. He is loved by his countrymen (not the rich ones).
Karen if he had used the oil wealth for good he wouldn't need to go to Cuba for his medical care.
Hopefully the vigil will be a wake and Chavez will no longer be able to destroy Venezuela. Democracy shoulld rule, not the dictator of Chavez
No matter your political position you should not wish illness upon anyone. My family has been partially destroyed by the policies of Chavez but to wish illness and death because of it, no way. May Chavez get well and see the errors of his rule.
Yeah, just so his people can rise up and hang him!
Wonder if he smells the sulphur now from "El Diablo" sitting on the foot of his bed?