Chavez in Cuba to begin treatment

29 November 2012 Last updated at 01:08 GMT Hugo Chavez has travelled to Cuba many times since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has arrived in Cuba, where he had months of cancer therapy, for further medical treatment.

Mr Chavez, who was re-elected in October, is due to be sworn in for a third term in January.

In a letter to the National Assembly, Mr Chavez said he needed further therapy to recover from this year's "tough electoral campaign".

In May he declared himself free of cancer.

There is no indication in his letter that the cancer has returned.

But the opposition has called for transparency about his health and the nature of his treatment in Cuba.

"This secrecy always leaves doubts about how much truth there is in the government's statements," said opposition politician Ramon Guillermo Aveledo.

No photos or footage of the president's departure or arrival have been released.

Continue reading the main story 30 Jun 2011: Announces he underwent operation in Cuba to remove cancerous tumourJul-Sep 2011: Has four rounds of chemotherapyFeb 2012: Flies to Cuba for surgery on "malignant" lesion in the pelvic regionApr-May 2012: Undergoes radiotherapy in Cuba 11 May 2012: Returns to Venezuela, hails treatment "success"Mr Chavez, 58, was first diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer in June 2011.

He has since had repeated surgery in Cuba, but finished his treatment there earlier this year.

In his letter to the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Chavez said he was returning to Havana following medical advice.

"Six months after I had the last session of radiotherapy, I have been advised to begin a new special treatment, with several sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physiotherapy," says the letter.

The treatment is aimed at continuing to "consolidate recent health improvements," he added.

The left-wing president was first elected in 1998.

During the electoral campaign, he dismissed rumours that he had not been cured of his cancer, and vowed to serve out his six-year term.

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Scant hope for change whoever wins U.S. vote: Venezuela's Chavez

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez salutes Brazil's Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota as he leaves in a car after their meeting at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas November 1, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

CARACAS | Tue Nov 6, 2012 8:59am EST

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, one of the U.S. government's leading critics, said there was little hope for change in American foreign policy regardless of the winner of Tuesday's vote for the White House.

The recently re-elected Chavez wants Barack Obama to beat Republican challenger Mitt Romney in the tight vote but he has also been blunt about his disappointment with the Democratic incumbent's first term.

"No matter who wins, we don't hold out much hope of changes in U.S. relations with the world," Chavez said late on Monday in a televised meeting with some ministers. "I hope the next government takes a good look at its role."

The 58-year-old socialist firebrand is friends with many of Washington's least-favored global leaders, from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko.

Chavez says Obama has continued the same aggressive "imperialist" foreign policy as his predecessors. But nevertheless Chavez endorsed him for re-election - a fact Romney seized on in a campaign video.

Despite his close interest in the U.S. race, Chavez is stressing domestic priorities after winning another six-year term last month in the South American OPEC member.

Although Chavez beat challenger Henrique Capriles by 11 percentage points, the opposition drew more votes than in any other election during his 14-year rule. The campaign exposed widespread frustration with domestic problems like electricity blackouts, rampant violent crime and soaring prices.

"I promise you an iron fist, from ministers down," Chavez said, vowing a new efficiency drive in government and singling out for criticism the failure to start a new ice-cream factory.

After two bouts of cancer since mid-2011, Chavez has declared himself cured but he was a shadow of his old self during the election campaign and has only been popping up in public once or twice a week since his October 7 win.

That has fueled speculation among foes that he may be having new checks or treatment but officials say he is fine.

"Fortunately, the comandante's health is improving and, God-willing, we will have him, not just until 2018 but much longer," Congress head Diosdado Cabello told reporters.

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Bill Trott)

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