Caracas says Chavez improving

• Tweet

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan government said Sunday President Hugo Chavez, who had cancer surgery last month, was responding favorably to treatment in Cuba.

The state-run Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reported the infection that set in after Chavez's operation in Havana and prevented him from being in Caracas Thursday for his scheduled inauguration to another term in office was now under control.

"Despite his poor health after complex surgery last Dec. 11, in recent days the overall clinical outcome was favorable," Communication and Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in a statement he read on national radio and television.

"[The] respiratory infection is controlled, although the ... president still requires specific measures for the settlement of respiratory failure.

"The president is aware, in touch with his family, with his political team and the attending physician team, to keep abreast of the information of interest."