Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez was due to appear yesterday at his biggest rally since he was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, providing clues to the state of his health as he heads into a re-election campaign.
The former soldier is expected to make a dramatic re-entry on to the political stage at the rally to effectively launch his campaign following a long absence due to cancer treatment and months of mystery and rumour about the extent of his illness.
A return to his thundering speeches before pulsing crowds is all the more important after his opposition rival, Henrique Capriles, put on a show of youthful vigour on Sunday by leading a 10km march with hundreds of thousands of supporters to register his candidacy. – (Reuters)