UN chief offers condolences to Venezuela over Chavez death

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has offered his “deepest condolences” to the people of Venezuela over the death of President Hugo Chavez.

Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the president shortly after Chavez passed away on Tuesday following a two-year battle with cancer.

“President Chavez spoke to the challenges and aspirations of the most vulnerable Venezuelans,” said Ban.

Several Latin American countries have declared days of national mourning, while Cuba, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Honduras and Argentina have all reacted with sadness to the death of the region’s most popular leader.

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff cancelled her visit to Argentina for the weekend after she received the news and called Chavez’s passing an irreparable loss.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN and current president of the Security Council Vitaly Churkin described Chavez’s demise a tragedy.

US President Barack Obama did not offer any sympathies instead he gave a short statement seeking a new chapter in relations with the oil-rich nation.

Meanwhile, Canada and France have expressed their condolences and British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was saddened by the news.

After Chavez’s demise, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Elias Jaua announced that Vice President Nicolas Maduro would take charge as interim president and a presidential election will be called within 30 days.

Chavez’s remains will be displayed at the military academy in Caracas until his funeral which is to be held on Friday March 8.

Hours before Chavez’s death, the Venezuelan vice president stated that someday there will be “scientific proof” that the socialist leader was infected with cancer by “imperialist” enemies.

On February 18, the 58-year-old Venezuelan leader returned to Caracas from Cuba, where he had undergone cancer surgery.

Chavez traveled to Havana on December 10 2010 for a fourth operation after his cancer reappeared despite a year and a half of treatment.