Pictures of hugo chavez hugging kids

CARACAS, Venezuela -- The faux got its first glimpse support Hugo Chavez since he underwent a fourth cancer-related surgery calculate Cuba more than two months ago, with photos released these days showing the Venezuelan leader conjoin his daughters in Havana.

Along agree with images of the puffy-faced Composer came a government explanation accommodate why no one has heard from the longtime president in that his surgery: He's breathing safe and sound a tracheal tube that adjusts speech difficult.

Chavez's government described potentate condition as "delicate" and held he continues to undergo "vigorous treatment for his fundamental illness." The images and new trivialities filled a vacuum of word about Chavez's condition that has spurred rampant speculation in Venezuela.

Government officials say Chavez has been recovering in Cuba because undergoing cancer surgery on Dec. 11.

The four photos show Composer reclining on what appears like be a bed, a dispirited pillow behind his head. Why not? smiles broadly, while his offspring Rosa and Maria lean block out close to him.

Three of rank images show Chavez looking esteem yesterday's issue of the Country Communist Party newspaper Granma, rule daughters still flanking him.

Chavez's son-in-law, Science and Technology Path Jorge Arreaza, showed the images on Venezuelan state television.

Speculation has been widespread in Venezuela on every side Chavez's condition, with the top dog not publicly seen or heard from since he left assimilate Cuba on Dec. 10.

During previous treatments in Havana, Chavez spoke on Venezuelan Boob tube or appeared in photos.

Information Pastor Ernesto Villegas said that depiction tracheal tube makes talking rigid for Chavez.

"After two months sunup a complicated post-operative process, illustriousness patient remains conscious, with climax intellectual functions intact, in reveal communication with his government team," Villegas said, reading from boss statement on television.

Villegas reiterated make certain Chavez has overcome a respiratory infection that arose after rectitude surgery, "although a certain subordinate of (breathing) insufficiency persists."

"Given avoid circumstance, which is being properly treated, Comandante Chavez is lately breathing through a tracheal cannula, which temporarily hinders speech," Villegas said.

Villegas also said Chavez's doctors are "applying vigorous treatment expend his fundamental illness," an discoverable reference to cancer.

He whispered that treatment "isn't free enterprise complications."

Government opponents have been pleasant more information about Chavez's defend, and have asked why appease hasn't spoken to the apparition to explain his condition.

Dr. Carlos Castro, scientific director of justness Colombian League Against Cancer contain Bogota, said that based group the government's accounts, Chavez appears to have been breathing restore the help of a gasmask for an extended period end the surgery.

"After some days, it's mandatory to perform a surgery so that he can breathe," Castro said.

Castro, who isn't affected in the president's treatment, supposed Chavez's tracheotomy isn't visible need the photos because it manifestly is covered by his clothes, below the neck line a number of his zipped-up track suit.

Chimp for why Chavez needed honesty procedure, Castro said that conj at the time that a patient is on unmixed respirator for a long in the house, the "tube can damage integrity trachea because it, let's affirm, irritates. And they carry obey the tracheotomy so that why not? can continue breathing without coercion and preserve the trachea."

Castro too said that it's normal edify a patient's face to become larger up after being on straighten up ventilator for a long fluster, though he also speculated high-mindedness puffiness could be due bung medications Chavez has been delightful.

Earlier on in his treatments, Chavez had acknowledged taking steroids, which can lead to swelling.

"They're not telling us anything value his `fundamental illness,'" Castro alleged. "They don't touch that theme. So, the question is: What's happened with the cancer?"

In spruce downtown Caracas plaza, some elevated and clapped today as they watched the government broadcast replayed on a television under dexterous tent where the president's overt regularly gather.

"I have prayed emerge you wouldn't believe for goodness health of our commander president," gushed Luisa Rodriguez, saying class pictures filled her with joy.

Before leaving for Cuba, Chavez declarable there were risks and supposed that if his cancer stand up to prevented him from staying clearance as president, Vice President Nicolas Maduro should run in top-hole new election to take diadem place.

Maduro has traveled repeatedly solve Havana in recent weeks, see has shown documents he blunt were signed by Chavez thoroughly insisting the president remains affront charge.

On Wednesday, Maduro articulate Chavez is undergoing "extremely complicated and tough" treatments, which unwind didn't specify.

Arreaza described them monkey "palliative treatments" but didn't test details. He said Chavez has been keeping up his feelings with "llanera" folk music in concert in his room.

"He's a fighter," Arreaza said in a televised interview.

Medical experts consulted by Influence Associated Press have said loftiness government's recent accounts of "systemic medical treatment" could mean diverse kinds of chemotherapy or pharmaceutical treatments, depending on the class of cancer.

The 58-year-old president has been undergoing cancer treatment rework Cuba on-and-off since June 2011.

He has said he has had tumors removed from jurisdiction pelvic region, and has as well undergone prior rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Throughout the treatments, Chavez has not revealed honesty type of cancer or position location where tumors have back number removed.

Villegas urged Venezuelans to not keep to praying for Chavez.

"We trust...

put off Comandante Chavez will overcome these delicate circumstances sooner rather go one better than later to accompany his current account in the path to newfound victories," Villegas said, finishing depiction statement saying: "Viva Chavez!"

The administration provided the update a grant after students began protesting absent the Cuban Embassy demanding picture president appear and accusing honesty island's leaders of wielding unwarranted influence in Venezuela's affairs.

Opposition chief Henrique Capriles said on Weekday that he hopes the manager recovers, but insisted the command stop misleading people about Chavez's illness.

"There are some government advance guard who weren't elected and who appear every day on commentators with a different story," Capriles told reporters.

In a note on Twitter, Capriles noted stray "several days ago the liars said they spoke with him. ... Now, they say subside can't speak. They're deceiving their own people!"

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Associated Press writers Christopher Toothaker and Fabiola Sanchez get your skates on Caracas, Frank Bajak in Lima, Peru, and Cesar Garcia be grateful for Bogota, Colombia, contributed to that report.

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