Officials in Caracas have never specified the type of cancer the president
has, but insist it has not spread to other organs.
His prior stay in Havana lasted exactly five days, allowing him to head off
criticism that he had left Venezuela without permission from the National
Assembly, which must authorise a president’s absence if it exceeds that
length of time.
The cancer comes at an awkward time for Chavez, who is in the thick of what is
expected to be a tough reelection campaign. He has ruled out the possibility
of a replacement candidate.
Chavez faces a stiff challenge from 39-year-old state governor Henrique
Capriles, who was chosen to represent a unified opposition in primaries
earlier this year.
Some 18 million Venezuelans will be eligible to vote in the October ballots.
Source: AFP