Nicolas Maduro said that Hugo Chavez’s health deteriorated recently for his acute respiratory problems, and has died. The media had it that Chavez, 58, had passed away in a local hospital at 16:25 local time.
The media also reported that the army high-ranking officers remained loyal to Maduro. With Chavez’ health deteriorated, political and army authorities met in Presidential palace.
It was televised live from Venezuela state TV, Maduro spoke before the Cabinet on Chavez’s general health and Venezuela’s situation.
The vice-president also spoke of a plot against Venezuela, saying he had no doubt that Mr. Chavez's cancer, first diagnosed in 2011, and had been induced by foul play by Venezuela's enemies.
Two US diplomats had been expelled from the country for spying on Venezuela's military, he added. “We are working to expel other US diplomat for his role in destabilizing the country and making connections with the army,” he said. The US diplomat, reportedly a military attaché, has received deadline of 24 hours to leave Venezuela. US embassy spokesman in Venezuela said that the so-called diplomat is David Delmonaco.
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, born in July 28th 1954, was 53rd Venezuelan president. He was known as the leader of ‘Bolivarian Revolution’ and famous for his social democratic policies and his opposition to globalizing neo-liberalism and US foreign policy.
He was a founder of leftist party Fourth Republic Movement, on power since December 2007 in Venezuela.
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