Chavez Reported to Be in Critical Condition

Last night we reported on growing speculation related to the condition of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez following his prolonged silence and seclusion in Cuba after surgery two weeks ago. Now Fox News through the El Nuevo Herald has reported Chavez to be in critical condition.

"according to the report in El Nuevo Herald, Chávez finds himself in 'critical condition, not grave, but critical, in a complicated situation.'"

The socialist leader's family has "urgently" left to go to him in Cuba within the last 72 hours, and speculation has grown that Chavez may be suffering from prostate cancer. Chavez's family had earlier tried to downplay concerns in regards to the President's health:

"Before the report that Chávez was in critical condition, his brother sought to reassure Venezuela that he was recovering well.

'In response to all the rumors, I can give faith that the president is recovering in a satisfactory manner,' Adan Chávez, who is a state governor, told state television Wednesday. 'The president is a strong man.'"

Chavez, or a someone very well possibly operating his twitter account, tweeted Friday for the first time in 20 days.

"I'm here with you during the hard battles every day! Until victory always! We are winning! And we shall win!" translated from Spanish.