THE DEATH of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez at 58 after a long struggle with cancer was announced last night by his vice-president and favoured successor Nicolas Maduro. Chavez, who had not been seen in public this year, was an icon for 21st century Latin American socialism. But his rule divided opinion at home and abroad – hence the conspiracy theories circulating in Caracas in the wake of his death:
'It was an American plot.' Chavez's cancer was immediately blamed by Vice-President Maduro on a US plot. In a lengthy televised address, he said Chavez had been infected by "imperialist" enemies. He also revealed that Venezuela had expelled two American diplomats for spying on the military. "We have no doubt that commander Chavez was attacked with this illness", he said. The US said the accusation was "absurd".
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A week of mourning. Chavez's body will be carried through the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas this morning before lying in state at the military academy until his funeral on Friday. Foreign minister Elias Jose Jaua Milano has declared a week of official mourning. Professor Daniel Hellinger, a US-based Venezuela analyst, told Reuters the funeral will likely "rival Eva Peron's", referring to the death in 1952 of the first lady of Argentina.
Obama's 'olive branch'. President Barack Obama said yesterday the US was interested in developing a more "constructive relationship" with Venezuela – an announcement the Wall Street Journal interpreted as an "olive branch" to the Venezuelan people. One US government official told CNN it was "counterproductive to be at odds" with Venezuela's government. But an unnamed source in the Obama administration said the expulsion of US diplomats showed the country's leadership was "uncertain, unsure and weak".
New election. The election to find a new president will be held in 30 days' time, with Nicolas Maduro assuming the presidency until then. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost against Chavez in elections in October 2012, is expected to be chosen to stand against the vice-president.
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