Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez dies after developing 'severe infection' during battle with cancer



The President had been undergoing treatment for cancer since June 2011

Vice president Nicolas Maduro made the announcement on television

Claimed the socialist leader had been 'infected by imperialist enemies'



Had been in 'very delicate' condition after developing respiratory infection



Returned from treatment in Cuba last month but has not been seen since

News came just hours after two US officials expelled from country

Maduro claimed they planned to destabilise the country with military leaders

Foreign Minister confirmed country will hold election in 30 days

Barack Obama reaffirmed US 'support for the Venezuelan people'

William Hague paid tribute to leader saying he had left a 'lasting impression'



Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has died in hospital at the age of 58 after developing a severe respiratory infection during his battle with cancer.

Supporters of the president, who had been fighting the disease for two years, claimed he had been infected by ‘imperialist enemies’.

The country's vice president Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, made the announcement during a national television broadcast last night.

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Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez died Tuesday at the age of 58 after developing a severe respiratory infection during his battle with cancer Unity: Chavez died at 4:25pm local time in the country's capital Caracas, according to the announcement

He said that the long-standing president died at 4:25pm local time in the country's capital Caracas, using the broadcast to call for 'unity, tranquility and understanding'. ‘We have no doubt that commander Chavez was attacked with this illness,’ added Mr Maduro, fingering ‘imperialist’ foes led by the United States. He said: 'The old enemies of our fatherland looked for a way to harm his health.’ Mr Maduro called on Venezualans to be 'dignified inheritors of the giant man', adding: 'Let there be no weakness, no violence. Let there be no hate. In our hearts there should only be one sentiment: Love. Love, peace and discipline.' In downtown Caracas, shops and restaurants began closing and Venezuelans hurried home after hearing the news . RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next 'We will launch surgical strikes at any time': North Korea's... Going for the 'sympathy vote'? Mugabe says he is lonely... Share this article Share US President Barack Obama said that his country hoped to develop its relationship with Venezuela. In a statement, he said: 'At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez's passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government.

'As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.' British Foreign Secretary William Hague paid tribute to the leader, who he said left a 'lasting impression' on the country. Mr Hague said: 'I was saddened to learn of the death of President Hugo Chavez. As President of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely. 'I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time.' Leader: Chavez had run Venezuela for more than 14 years, gradually placing all state institutions under his personal control Election: Chavez's death is expected to trigger an election to determine who will replace the socialist leader World leader: Chavez pictured with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2001 The country's foreign minister Elias Jaua last night said that elections will be held in 30 days to determine who shall replace Chavez.

A government spokesman had earlier said that the far-left leader, who has held control in the country for 14 years, was in a 'very delicate' condition in hospital. The news came just hours after Mr Maduro announced that two U.S. Embassy officials were expelled for meeting with military officers and planning to destabilise the country. Promising that troops will safeguard the sovereignty of the country, he said Chavez had died after 'battling a tough illness for nearly two years'. He compared the situation to the death of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, claiming Arafat was 'inoculated with an illness'. Maduro is Chavez's self-anointed successor and has been taking on a larger role since the socialist leader urged Venezuelans to choose him as president before disappearing in early December to undergo a fourth round of cancer surgery in Cuba. Announcement: The country's vice president Nicolas Maduro made the announcement on television surrounded by other officials Chemotherapy: Chavez in 2011, pointing at his head to prove his hair was growing back Supporters gathered on the streets of the capital following the announcement, many in tears, brandishing effigies and national flags. 'I feel a sorrow so big I can't speak,' said Yamilina Barrios, a 39-year-old clerk who works in the Industry Ministry, her face covered in tears. 'He was the best this country had,' she said. A group of masked, helmeted men on motorcycles, some brandishing revolvers attacked about 40 students after the announcement. The students had been protesting for more than a week near the Supreme Court building to demand the government give more information about Chavez's health.

The attackers, who wore no clothing identifying any political allegiance, burned the students' tents and scattered their food just minutes after the death was announced. Grief: Supporters of Chavez react after learning that the president has died Reaction: Supporters embrace outside the military hospital after learning of Chavez's death Details of Chavez's health, who championed a leftist revival across Latin America, have been cloaked in mystery since he was first diagnosed with the disease in June 2011. Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas earlier appeared on national television last night to announce that the president was suffering from 'a new, severe infection'.

The president had neither been seen nor heard from, except for a couple of hospital bed photos, since the surgery in Cuba for an unspecified cancer in the pelvic area. The Government said he returned home on February 18 and had been confined to Caracas' military hospital since. Villegas said that Chavez was 'standing by Christ and life conscious of the difficulties he faces'. The president's death is expected to trigger a snap election in 30 days, backed by officials last night, though the opposition has argued that it should have been held after Chavez was unable to be sworn in on January 10. Crowds: Supporters gather in Caracas after the announcement, waving the national flag and carrying a cutout of the President Support: His charismatic style, anti-US rhetoric and oil-financed policies won favour among many Venezuelans Long reign: After first being elected in 1998, Chavez was re-elected on two occasions



Family: Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez hugs his daughters Rosa (left) and Maria (right) while appearing to supporters on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba in July 2011

Proof of life: Chavez was also pictured looking at the Cuba Communist Party newspaper Granma



Mr Maduro called on Venezuelans to convene in the capital's Bolivar Square, named for the 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar, who Chavez claimed as his chief inspiration.



The vice president also called on the opposition to respect 'the people's pain'.



Chavez had not been seen in public nor heard from since having surgery in Cuba on December 11.

It was his fourth operation since the disease was detected in his pelvic area in mid-2011.

The death of Chavez, who modelled himself on the 19th century independence leader Simon Bolivar and renamed his country the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, will devastate millions of supporters.

His charismatic style, anti-US rhetoric and oil-financed policies that brought subsidised food and free health clinics to long-neglected slums won him widespread support.

The campaigning has already unofficially begun, with vice president Maduro, who Chavez has said should succeed him, frequently commandeering all broadcast channels to promote the 'revolution' and vilify the opposition.

The vote for a new president should be held within 30 days and will probably pit the socialist Maduro against Henrique Capriles, the centrist leader and state governor who lost to Chavez in the October.

Chavez has run Venezuela for more than 14 years as a virtual one-man show, gradually placing all state institutions under his personal control.

But the former army paratroop officer who rose to fame with a failed 1992 coup, never groomed a successor with his force of personality.



Chavez was last re-elected in October, and his challenger Henrique Capriles, the youthful governor of Miranda state, is expected to be the opposition's candidate again.

Commanding: Chavez polarised Venezuelans with his confrontational and domineering style

One of Chavez's three daughters, Maria Gabriela, earlier expressed thanks to well-wishers via her Twitter account. 'We will prevail!' she wrote, echoing a favorite phrase of her father. 'With God always.'



There had been speculation that Chavez's cancer has spread to his lungs. Maduro said last week that the president had begun receiving chemotherapy around the end of January.



Doctors have said that such therapy was not necessarily to try to beat Chavez's cancer into remission but could have been palliative, to extend Chavez's life and ease his suffering.



While in Cuba, Chavez suffered a severe respiratory infection that nearly killed him. A tracheal tube was inserted then and government officials said his breathing remained laboured.

Tributes were paid to the politician by world leaders and celebrities, including his friend Sean Penn, who said: 'Today the United States lost a friend it never knew it had'.

The actor added: 'Poor people around the world lost a champion. I lost a friend I was blessed to have. My thoughts are with the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela.'



Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who survived cancer, said: ' Today a great Latin American died. On many occasions, the Brazilian government did not fully agree with President Hugo Chavez but today, as always, we recognize in him a great leader, an irreparable loss and, above all, a friend of Brazil.'

Influence: Hugo Chavez being greeted by former Prime Minister Tony Blair during a visit to Downing Street

Coup: Chavez was first elected president in 1998, after he led a failed coup in 1992 Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said in a televised address: 'We undoubtedly had our differences, but I was always able to appreciate the strength, the engagement with which Chavez fought for his ideas. 'When his illness worsened and he had to return to Cuba, I called him and I remember he told me ... that if he had to face death, he wanted to do it in his country, in his beloved Venezuela.'

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos told reporters: 'The obsession that united us and that was the base of our relationship was peace in Colombia and the region. If we've advanced in a solid peace process it's also thanks to the dedication and commitment without limits of President Chavez and the Venezuelan government.'

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams remembered Chavez, who he said had worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Venezuelan citizens. He said: 'He dedicated himself to building a new and radical society in Venezuela. His progressive social and economic changes took millions out of poverty. 'He extended free health care and education for all citizens and his re-election last year with a huge majority was testimony to his vision.' Irish President Michael D Higgins said: 'I was very sorry to hear of the death, after a long illness, of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. 'President Chavez achieved a great deal during his term in office, particularly in the area of social development and poverty reduction.'

THE LEADER WHO PROMISED TO CARRY ON BEFORE ILLNESS TOOK HOLD

Feb 4 1992 - Lt. Col. Chavez leads unsuccessful coup against President Carlos Andres Perez March 26 1994 - After two years in jail awaiting trial, Chavez is set free Dec 6 1998 - Becomes president, promising to seek 'third way' between socialism and capitalism July 30 2000 - Elected to new six-year term April 11, 2002 - Protesters demand Chavez's resignation marching toward presidential palace. Dissident generals oust Chavez and clear way for interim government that throws out constitution. April 14 2002 - After protests by supporters, loyal army officers rescue Chavez and restore power Dec 3 2006 - Re-elected to six-year term, capturing 63 percent of the vote Dec 2 2007 - Voters reject constitutional amendments proposed by Chavez, setting back his drive to transform Venezuela into socialist state Feb 15 2009 - Wins referendum that allows him to run for re-election indefinitely June 10 2011 - Chavez undergoes surgery in Cuba for pelvic abscess June 30 2011 - Appears on television saying he had a cancerous tumor removed July 4 2011 - Returns to Venezuela, but travels to Cuba periodically for chemotherapy and tests Feb 21 2012 - Announces doctors found lesion in same place where tumor was removed March 24 2012 - Travels to Cuba to begin radiation therapy July 9 2012 - Says at a news conference that tests have shown he is 'totally free' of cancer

Oct 7 2012 - Wins another six-year term, beating challenger Henrique Capriles by 11-point margin

Dec 9 2012 - Announces that his cancer has returned and that he needs surgery again Dec 11 2012 - Undergoes his fourth cancer-related operation in Cuba March 5 2012 - Government announces death of Hugo Chavez

