Chavez hints at US cancer conspiracy

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has questioned whether the United States government is behind a recent spate of cancer among left-wing South American leaders.

The Venezuelan leader, who was treated for cancer earlier this year, made the comment a day after Argentina’s president was diagnosed with the disease.

Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Dilma Rousseff of Brazil and her predecessor Lula have also had cancer.

Chavez said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was behind chemical experiments in Guatemala in the 1940s and it’s possible that in years to come a plot will be uncovered that shows the US spread cancer as a political weapon against its critics.

“Would it be so strange that they’ve invented technology to spread cancer and we won’t know about it for 50 years?” Chavez asked in a nationally televised speech to the military.

However, Chavez stressed that he was thinking aloud rather than making “rash accusations”.

The 56-year-old Venezuelan chief executive had a pelvic abscess removed from his body during a surgery in Cuba earlier this year.

After having two rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba, doctors treating Venezuelan president have confirmed that he has been cured of cancer and enjoys optimal health conditions now.