Chavez ally: Ailing president undergoing physical therapy

11:18, 23 January 2013

HAVANA. January 23. KAZINFORM Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is undergoing physical therapy in Cuba, an ally said Tuesday, a development that would be a significant step for the ailing leader if true, CNN reported.

"I have good news," Bolivian President Evo Morales said during his state of the union speech Tuesday, telling lawmakers that he had spoken to Cuban officials about Chavez on Sunday. "Our brother, president-commander Hugo Chavez, is already doing physical therapy to return to his country."

Later Tuesday, Venezuela's information minister said there was no date planned for Chavez to come back to Caracas, the capital.

"The news of the evolution of President Hugo Chavez's health has been encouraging, but there is no date set for his return," Ernesto Villegas said in televised remarks.

Venezuelan and Cuban authorities have been secretive about Chavez's health. The 58-year-old Venezuelan president has not made any public appearances since undergoing a fourth cancer surgery in Havana six weeks ago. The government has not released any photographs of the ailing leader, and Chavez hasn't spoken on state television.

The long absence from the airwaves is not typical of the loquacious leader. And his lengthy stay in Cuba has sparked growing concerns from political opponents about who's running Venezuela while he's gone.

On Monday, Chavez's brother released a statement saying the president's medical team would decide when he would come back to Venezuela.

"We all desire his return," Argenis Chavez said, denying reports that quoted him saying the president would return in the "coming days."

Morales' comment, along with another by Venezuela's foreign minister, paint an uplifting picture. But officials have previously provided rosy reports that did not pan out.

Chavez is awake, joking and, most importantly, still making decisions for the country, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said.

Jaua said he met with Chavez on Monday in Cuba.

"Compatriots, leaving the meeting with our President Commander Hugo Chavez. We shared jokes and laughs," Jaua said in a tweet.

Jaua said Chavez was making decisions about the upcoming summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a coalition of the region's countries.

"He made decisions about our participation in the Summit," the foreign minister tweeted. "Very happy that progress continues ..."