After a two year long battle with cancer the President of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, died on March 5 at 4:26 pm (local time) in the military Hospital of Caracas. After nearly 3 months of treatment in Havana, Cuba, Chavez returned to Venezuela in February, 2013. The Venezuelan President had received an emergency surgery in Havana, at the beginning of December 2012, increasing...
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After a two year long battle with cancer the President of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, died on March 5 at 4:26 pm (local time) in the military Hospital of Caracas. After nearly 3 months of treatment in Havana, Cuba, Chavez returned to Venezuela in February, 2013. The Venezuelan President had received an emergency surgery in Havana, at the beginning of December 2012, increasing international speculation over Chavez's ability to return to power.

After an intense presidential campaign, Chavez was re-elected to the Presidency on October 7. He beat the opposition candidate and current Governor of the State of Miranda, Henrique Capriles Radonski, but the campaign was hard and interrupted the recovery process. Hugo Chavez's health deteriorated further and was complicated by an acute respiratory infection. As a result the former Venezuelan president sought treatment in Havana.

Since returning to Venezuela, Chavez was hospitalized at the military hospital under strict security and amid great secrecy relating to his personal health. Government and party officials only released generalized diagnosis and very little specific information was given to the public and the international community.

In the evening of March 5 it was announced president Hugo Chavez had died in his hospital room. The announcement has caused a tremendous impact on the Venezuelan population. While the country remains in mourning things remain calm. However the uncertainty of the country's political future has only increased the tenseness between Chavez supporters and members of the opposition.

On March 6, Chavez's remains were carried through the capitol in a funeral procession of thousands. Supporters carried Chavez from the military hospital to the Military Academy in the Fort Tiuna Military Complex. The funeral procession overwhelmed many with shock, pain and finally, hope.
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