Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dies at age 58

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez breathed his last on March 5, after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 58.

This information was announced by Vice President Nicolas Maduro himself on television, broadcast live from the military hospital in Caracas.

Venezuelans mourn leftist leader Hugo Chavez.

"I have just received the most painful news... Commander-in-Chief Hugo Chavez passed away today, at 4:25 p.m. (4:25 a.m. on March 6, Vietnam time)," Mr. Maduro said with a sad face. "Long live Hugo Chavez."

Vice President Maduro said the Venezuelan government has begun “a special deployment” of all armed forces and police to “guarantee peace”.

Mr Chavez was admitted to hospital in Caracas on February 18 after two months of treatment in Cuba, where he underwent his fourth surgery last December since being diagnosed with cancer in June 2011.

Before returning to Cuba for medical treatment on December 10, 2012, Mr. Chavez proactively recommended his deputy, Maduro, to run the country "in case the worst happens."

Since then, information about Mr. Chavez's illness has been kept secret. The government has always reassured the people about the commander-in-chief's health condition, only releasing a few pictures of Mr. Chavez smiling at his hospital bed, until announcing his death on March 5.

Chavez died just five months after being re-elected in October, defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. He was scheduled to be sworn in for a new six-year term on January 10. However, that ceremony never took place.

Mr. Chavez is considered the leading leader of the left-wing movement in Latin America, receiving great support from the working people.

His death is a great loss, not only for the Venezuelan people but also for the leftist movement in general, and puts the country in an unpredictable situation./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT