Venezuela

• Friday, January 11th 2013 - 08:52 UTC

  President Mujica calls for unity and peace for ‘the day when Chavez is not with us’

  

  The shortest and most sober of a day of emotional speeches and promises was that from Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who asked the massive rally in support of President Hugo Chavez that if the Venezuelan leader “tomorrow is not with us”, then unity, peace and work must prevail.

• Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 12:57 UTC

  Venezuelan opposition leader accepts high court ruling but tells government ‘back to work’

  

  Opposition leader Enrique Capriles accepted Venezuela’s high court sentence endorsing the postponement of President Hugo Chavez inauguration on Thursday and the ruling that the cancer-stricken leader and his administration remained in office, since “as president re-elect there is no interruption of performance of duties”.

• Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 03:54 UTC

  Brazilian corporations fearful of Venezuelan situation despite Brasilia support for Maduro

  

  Brazilian corporations with strong interests in Venezuela have expressed concern about the future of the country and its impact on Mercosur if the political transition, because of President Hugo Chavez health condition, does not follow the constitutional process

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 19:46 UTC

  Venezuela top court endorses inauguration postponement; massive ‘legitimization’ rally on Thursday

  

  Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal constitutional chamber endorsed the postponement of Hugo Chavez inauguration scheduled for Thursday and ruled that the cancer-stricken leader remained as the constitutional president of the country since he was re-re-elected and was granted a leave of absence for medical reasons by the National Assembly.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:35 UTC

  Venezuelan government postpones inauguration because of Chavez health problems

  

  Venezuela will postpone Thursday's presidential inauguration due to President Hugo Chávez' continuing health problems, the government announced on Tuesday. Chavez who has dominated Venezuelan politics almost undisputedly since 1999 has not been heard from or seen in public since his Dec. 11 cancer surgery in Cuba.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:32 UTC

  US says Chavez succession is an issue for Venezuelans to decide and must include all voices

  

  The United States is concerned for the health of President Hugo Chavez and wishing a speedy recovery, but the succession situation in Venezuela “is an issue for Venezuelans to decide” and it should be done in a manner “that includes all the voices in the discussion”, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:26 UTC

  Mujica flies to Caracas “to support the government and people of Venezuela”

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica leaves for Caracas “to support the government and people of Venezuela” on Thursday 10 January, the date in which convalescent re-re-elected president Hugo Chavez is supposed to take the oath of office.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 07:19 UTC

  Chavez “virtual taking office” next Thursday in Caracas with leaders from friendly countries

  

  The Venezuelan government is organizing a massive turnout for Thursday January 10 in support of re-re-elected president Hugo Chavez with the attendance of several Latinamerican leaders in what has been described as a “virtual taking office” ceremony.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 00:49 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez flies Jan 10 to Havana in support of Chavez and Maduro

  

  The Argentine government confirmed on Monday that President Cristina Fernandez would be flying on Thursday to Cuba to visit her Venezuelan peer Hugo Chavez, fighting for his life after a fourth cancer surgery with complications, and on the day which he should be taking office after October’s re-re-election.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 00:21 UTC

  Venezuelan Catholic Church calls for constitutional respect on inauguration day

  

  Venezuela’s Catholic Church issued a veiled warning to the government on Monday against overriding the constitution by delaying cancer-stricken Hugo Chavez's inauguration for a new term as president.