Venezuela: Chavez still running nation

CARACAS -- Military and civilian allies of Venezuela's convalescent President Hugo Chavez said Friday he was still running the OPEC oil-producing nation despite his prolonged absence in Cuba for the removal of a cancerous tumor.

Army chief Gen. Henry Rangel Silva and ministers moved quickly to head off speculation about a possible power vacuum or political infighting after Chavez, 56, revealed late Thursday he was still receiving treatment after the operation.

He did not say when he would be back from Cuba, where he disappeared from public view after surgery on June 10. Nor did he specify the treatment he is receiving, leading to rumors the malignant cells may have spread, requiring chemotherapy.

The absence of the charismatic leader -- who has dominated Venezuelan politics since 1999 and projected his leftist views across Latin America and the world -- have raised doubts about his ability to campaign for a presidential election in 2012.

It was also a humbling admission of mortality from a usually supremely confident politician with a string of election wins who has often taunted his foes with the prospect of staying in power until 2021.

With doubts swirling over how long his recovery could take and opponents questioning how Venezuela should be ruled in his absence, Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua insisted Chavez was in "full exercise of authority" from Cuba.

One source close to the Venezuelan medical team following Chavez's recovery said the diagnosis had revealed a cancer that required aggressive treatment that could take several months.