- Joined
- Oct 12, 2009
- Messages
- 23,909
- Reaction score
- 11,003
- Location
- New Jersey
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Libertarian - Right
BBC said:28 February 2012 Last updated at 14:23 ET
[h=1]Venezuela's Hugo Chavez 'has cancer surgery in Cuba'[/h]
President Chavez has been in office for 13 years
Continue reading the main story
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in "good physical shape" after undergoing planned cancer surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's vice-president says.
A lesion in Mr Chavez's pelvic region was completely removed, vice-president Elias Jaua said.
Mr Chavez, 57, had two operations to remove a cancerous tumour from the same area last year.
His renewed ill-health comes months before he is due to stand for re-election in October.
The exact nature and extent of Mr Chavez's illness has never been made public, leading to persistent rumours that his health is worse than officially acknowledged.
One unexpected benefit to Chavez having cancer is that his rhetoric has been severely dialed down. This is the 3rd operation(?) now for cancer. This may bode well for Venezuela as it may provide a political opportunity for a Chavez opponent.