Venezuela, a la expectativa por salud de Chávez

A man stands in front of a mural of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas were the streets are practically deserted on January 1, 2013. Somber Venezuelans began 2013 fretting over their ubiquitous and garrulous leader Hugo Chavez, wondering what the future holds as the president wages a tough battle with cancer in a Havana hospital. New Year's Eve revelry was tempered, and official acts -- two open air concerts -- were canceled outright out of respect for the ex-paratrooper who has dominated this oil-rich country so thoroughly since taking power in 1999. Chavez underwent his fourth cancer-related surgery three weeks ago in Havana and has been bed-ridden ever since. Information on his condition is scant, with the government admitting only to "complications" in his recovery. AFP PHOTO/LEO RAMIREZ

CAR104. CARACAS (VENEZUELA), 31/12/2012.- Varias personas asisten hoy, lunes 31 de diciembre de 2012, a una misa por la salud del presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, en Caracas (Venezuela). El fin de año en Venezuela estuvo marcado por la suspensión de las fiestas públicas para despedir el 2012 y dar paso a ceremonias religiosas para pedir por la recuperación de Chávez, quien se mantiene hospitalizado en La Habana en estado "delicado". EFE/MIGUEL GUTIÉRREZ

A man walks near a poster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reading "Now More Than Ever, With Chavez", in Caracas were the streets are practically deserted on January 1, 2013. Somber Venezuelans began 2013 fretting over their ubiquitous and garrulous leader Hugo Chavez, wondering what the future holds as the president wages a tough battle with cancer in a Havana hospital. New Year's Eve revelry was tempered, and official acts -- two open air concerts -- were canceled outright out of respect for the ex-paratrooper who has dominated this oil-rich country so thoroughly since taking power in 1999. Chavez underwent his fourth cancer-related surgery three weeks ago in Havana and has been bed-ridden ever since. Information on his condition is scant, with the government admitting only to "complications" in his recovery. AFP PHOTO/LEO RAMIREZ

Men walk near a mural of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, were the streets are practically deserted, on January 1, 2013. Somber Venezuelans began 2013 fretting over their ubiquitous and garrulous leader Hugo Chavez, wondering what the future holds as the president wages a tough battle with cancer in a Havana hospital. New Year's Eve revelry was tempered, and official acts -- two open air concerts -- were canceled outright out of respect for the ex-paratrooper who has dominated this oil-rich country so thoroughly since taking power in 1999. Chavez underwent his fourth cancer-related surgery three weeks ago in Havana and has been bed-ridden ever since. Information on his condition is scant, with the government admitting only to "complications" in his recovery. AFP PHOTO/LEO RAMIREZ

Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pray during a mass in Caracas, on December 31, 2012. Venezuela called off public New Year's Eve festivities on Monday and social media sizzled with worry after the government said cancer-stricken Chavez had taken a turn for the worse. The streets of Caracas were quiet as front page headlines relayed that Chavez had developed "new complications" from a respiratory infection after undergoing his fourth cancer-related surgery, on December 11 in Havana. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO

Young people listen to President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega during a church service that was held in the Port Salvador Allende, in Managua on December 31, 2012, to pray for the recovery of the health of President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez. AFP PHOTO/Hector Retamal

(FILE) Members of the National police attend a mass for the health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in Caracas on December 13, 2012. Venezuela closes 2012 without knowing if Chavez will return to rule the country. AFP PHOTO / JUAN BARRETO