Mr Chavez has overcome a respiratory infection.

Minister Villegas said doctors had successfully treated the President's severe respiratory infection.

On January 26, the Venezuelan government announced that President Hugo Chavez's health was progressing "generally favorably," and that the complications he suffered after surgery on December 11 in Cuba had been resolved.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Photo: AFP)

In an official statement on President Chavez's health released in the Chilean capital Santiago, where the first Summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) took place, Venezuelan Information and Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas said that doctors had successfully treated the severe respiratory infection, but that President Chavez was still suffering from respiratory failure to some extent.

According to Minister Villegas, doctors have finished dealing with post-operative complications and begun treating the cancer.

The statement also criticized some national and international media serving the interests of hostile right-wing forces, especially the Spanish daily newspapers El País and ABC, for distorting President Chávez's health situation in order to sabotage the Bolivarian revolution he led.

The statement also said that, despite being treated for his illness, whenever conditions permit, President Chavez still monitors the situation and meets with other key government leaders to make decisions on domestic and foreign policies.

Speaking on television early on January 26 after returning from a visit to President Chavez, Vice President Nicolás Maduro said the leftist leader had reviewed and made a decision regarding the 2013 budget to ensure financial resources for social programs, as well as approved the ruling party’s method of selecting candidates in district-level elections in May./.

According to VNA - DT