EFE, EL PAIS (Spain), EL UNIVERSAL (Venezuela)
CARACAS – Hugo Chavez is suffering from another severe respiratory infection said Venezuelan Minister for Communication and Information, Ernesto Villegas, in a video statement.
“At the moment the respiratory function is getting worse because of the immunosuppressants. Currently, he has a new, severe infection,” said Villegas. “Right now, unity and discipline are the basis to guarantee political stability in the country,” he continued, reports Caracas based El Universal.
As the nature of Chavez’s cancer has not been revealed, speculation has been rife – with people saying the Venezuelan president might already be dead. Villegas hit back, saying that nobody in their right mind could think that the Chavez family and government would lie about such a thing, according to EFE.
Vice-President Nicolás Maduro, described the treatments that Chavez was undergoing, saying they were non-invasive. He also said that Chavez was on a new round of chemotherapy, harder and more intense, which is why the President wanted to return home from Cuba, reports El Pais.
On Sunday, said El Pais, there was a march in the streets of Caracas by students who demanded reliable information on the status of the president. The government organized a counter-march in support of Chavez with slogans such as “take all the time you need.”
Chavez, 58, who has ruled Venezuela since 1999, returned to Caracas two weeks ago after being hospitalized in Cuba after a fourth cancer operation.
