Americas News

Chavez recovering well from surgery, Venezuelan vice president says

Mar 1, 2012, 14:34 GMT

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is recovering well from surgery to remove an abdominal tumour, according to his vice president Elias Jaua.

Jaua said late Wednesday that he had talked by telephone with Chavez, who underwent surgery in Havana and is recovering there too.

'I can bear witness to the strength I felt in the commander. He sent greetings and congratulations to the cabinet,' Jaua told Venezuelan state television.

He said Chavez ended the conversation with the phrase 'viviremos y venceremos,' which translates as 'we shall live and we shall prevail.'

Chavez underwent surgery Tuesday. Doctors said there were no complications during the operation.

Chavez, 57, who has declared himself a candidate for re-election on October 7 despite his health problems, also underwent surgery for an unspecified form of cancer in June, and followed that up with chemotherapy.

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