Chavez’s Cabinet Prays for his Recovery
Via the BBC: Venezuelan cabinet attends mass for Chavez’s recovery
Venezuelan cabinet ministers got together to pray for the recovery of President Hugo Chavez, who is in Cuba recovering from a cancer operation.
They took part in a mass held at the presidential palace in Caracas.
Official New Year celebrations were called off on Sunday after Vice-President Nicolas Maduro announced that Mr Chavez had suffered new complications.
Meanwhile, secrecy worthy of the Soviets remains the order of the day:
The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford in Havana says it is now three weeks since Hugo Chavez has been seen or heard from in person.
With potential political conflict on the horizon:
There are also many questions about what will happen on 10 January when Mr Chavez is due to be re-inaugurated, our correspondent adds.
National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello recently said that the swearing-in ceremony would be delayed in the case of Mr Chavez’s absence.
But the opposition says such move would be unconstitutional.
The Venezuelan constitutions states that a new election should be called in 30 days should the president not be fit enough to attend his inauguration, the opposition argues.
