Friendly leaders to visit Venezuela as show of support for Chavez: official

Venezuela's National Assembly president Diosdado Cabello announced Monday that heads of state from friendly nations will visit Venezuela to show their support for its ailing President Hugo Chavez.



Cabello said several "friendly" leaders will travel to the capital Caracas to show their support on Thursday, Jan. 10, the day Chavez was scheduled to be sworn in as president for another six-year term.



"Friendly presidents, heads of government, and prime ministers are coming to Venezuela to show their solidarity with Commander Hugo Chavez, with the people and with the Constitution," Cabello told reporters at a press conference at the headquarters of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).



Cabello, accompanied by Vice President Nicolas Maduro, did not say who the presidents will be in Caracas on that day.



Cabello also called on Chavez supporters to attend a mass rally in front of the presidential palace Thursday to counter the " destabilizing" criticism from conservative opposition forces, who maintained that postponing the president's swearing in ceremony goes against the Constitution.



Opposition groups are planning their own show of strength, by calling for a "civic strike."



Opponents of Chavez say a failure to take office on the designated day will lead to a power vacuum.



"There is no power vacuum, there is absolutely no absence of any kind as the opposition claims," Cabello said in reaction to the claims.



Chavez remains hospitalized in Havana, Cuba, after having cancer surgery and contracting a lung infection.

