Venezuela's Chávez develops lung infection

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has developed a "severe" respiratory infection that is making it hard for the cancer-stricken leader to breathe, less than a week before he is due to start a new term, officials said.

"Comandante Chavez has faced complications following a severe lung infection," Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in a nationally televised statement Thursday night. Chávez, who Villegas said must "strictly adhere" to his medical treatment, remains in a Havana hospital after undergoing a fourth cancer-related surgery more than three weeks ago.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro again described the 58-year-old socialist leader's recovery as "complex" after returning from an extended visit with Chávez. The government has not said what type of cancer Chávez has suffered from since June 2011.

"Any time a cancer surgery leads to a lung infection it can be a significant risk to recovery," said Michael Pishvaian, an oncologist at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington. Pishvaian has not treated Chávez.

Chávez's health crisis has raised contentious questions ahead of the swearing-in set for Thursday, including whether the inauguration could legally be postponed and what will happen if Chávez can't begin his new term.

Opposition leaders have argued that Chávez, who was re-elected to a six-year term in October, seems no longer fit to continue as president and have demanded that a new election be held within 30 days if he isn't in Caracas on inauguration day.

But some of Chávez's close confidants dismiss the view that the inauguration date is a hard deadline, saying Chávez could be given more time to recover if necessary.