Venezuelan leader in Cuba for 4th cancer treatment

A photo of Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura welcoming Chavez on Saturday night at the Jose Marti International Airport accompanied the article. Chavez is being accompanied by his daughter Rosa Virginia, Xinhua reports.

The Venezuelan leader was diagnosed with cancer in June 2011 and in late February underwent a second surgery in Cuba to remove a small tumor. As part of his anti-cancer treatment, he must also undergo five five-day sessions of radiation therapy, with 48 hours of rest in between, obligating him to travel frequently between Havana and Caracas.

The Venezuelan Constitution requires the President to seek the approval of the National Assembly if he is to be absent from the country for more than 5 days, and legislators granted him permission to complete his round of treatments on this trip.

Chavez's trip to Havana coincides with the sixth summit of the Organization of American States (OAS) taking place in the Colombian resort city of Cartagena. Cuba was the only regional country not invited, while the Venezuelan head of state declined to attend "for medical reasons."

Since his cancer was diagnosed, Chavez's health has become a matter of great concern among his supporters at home, where he plans to run for another term after 13 years in power, to continue his social and political reforms under the banner of the " Bolivarian Revolution".

His health is also of great concern to Cuba, as Caracas is Havana's largest political and economic ally.

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