Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died. A tearful Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced this from a Caracas military hospital. Chavez who ruled the country for 14 years lost his battle with cancer silencing the leading voice of the Latin American left. Chavez, 58, was admitted to the hospital last month to continue chemotherapy after two months in Cuba, where he had undergone his fourth round of cancer surgery since June 2011. The once ubiquitous symbol of Latin America's anti-imperialist left had disappeared from public view after being flown to Cuba on December 10, an unusual absence that fuelled rumors about his health.
Venezuela's poor revered the self-styled revolutionary for using the country's oil riches to fund popular housing, health, food and education programs. Chavez won elections, in October last year overcoming a resurgent opposition and public frustration over a rising murder rate, regular blackouts and soaring inflation.
In his tribute, President Obama has spoken of a challenging time for Venezuela with the passing of Hugo Chavez. He reaffirmed US support for the Venezuelan people and said, his Government remained committed to policies that promoted democratic principles and respect for human rights
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said, Mr Chavez was a great Latin American leader and his death was an irreparable loss. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said despite his differences with Mr. Chavez, his death was a great loss to the region. Argentina's President Christina Fernandez Kirchner cancelled all her appointments and declared three days of national mourning.