Venezuela's Hugo Chavez faces new operation

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said that he will have to have further surgery after doctors found a lesion during medical tests in Cuba.

The 57-year-old had two operations in Havana last year to remove a cancerous tumor from his pelvis, and had said he was completely recovered. He said the lesion was in the same area and was probably malignant. Mr Chavez - who has governed Venezuela for 13 years - is due to stand for re-election in October. He revealed the news of his illness on television on Tuesday. He said the surgery to remove it would take place "in the coming days". He said he is in good physical condition to confront this new battle. The announcement followed unconfirmed reports in the Venezuelan media that Mr Chavez had travelled to Cuba for urgent treatment. On Monday his Information Minister, Andres Izarra, dismissed the reports as part of a "dirty war" against the government. Mr Chavez also accused the opposition of spreading rumors and wishing him dead. According to the BBC, the exact nature and extent of Mr Chavez's condition has never been made public, fuelling persistent rumors that it may be worse than he has indicated. Mr Chavez had surgery to remove a tumor in Cuba last June. He also had chemotherapy, and last October last year announced he was cancer-free. His challenger in October's presidential election is Miranda state governor Henrique Capriles Radonski, who won an opposition primary earlier this month to choose a unity candidate. Mr Capriles has previously said he hopes Mr Chavez leads a long life, "so he can see the changes that are coming in Venezuela".   (BBC)