Chavez cancer risk not life threatening: Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

Chavez cancer risk not life threatening: Venezuela
– 1 hr 4 mins ago

CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua said Sunday that President Hugo Chavez was not in danger of losing his life after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, and hopes to recover in time for next year's presidential election.

The tumor has "never been life threatening," Jaua insisted to the El Universal newspaper, in a bid to contain the shockwaves felt over the firebrand leader's surprise announcement from Cuba last week that he had the tumor removed.

"Of course he will be president again in 2012," Jaua added, to the question of Chavez' candidacy in next year's polls. The shock news has sparked rumors about his ability to lead the country which the elected former paratrooper has led on a socialist national overhaul since 1999.

Caracas has not given details on what followup cancer treatment Chavez might get, or the type of cancer the 56-year-old is suffering.

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