Photos: Hugo Chavez returns to Venezuela 2 months after surgery
February 18, 2013
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11, 2012. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. The banner reads: "Welcome commander". REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gather at Simon Bolivar Square in Caracas to celebrate after Chavez announced on Twitter that he had returned to the country from Cuba and is hospitalized at a military hospital in the Venezuelan capital, on February 18, 2013. Chavez returned to Venezuela early on Monday after spending more than two months in Cuba for cancer surgery and treatment, announcing his surprise homecoming via Twitter. "We have arrived again to the Venezuelan motherland," Chavez wrote. "Thank you, God. Thank you, my beloved people. We will continue my treatment here." JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez celebrate his return at Bolivar Square in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery, his government said, triggering street celebrations by supporters who welcomed him home while he remained out of sight at the Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital in Caracas, where he will continue his treatment. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez stands outside a military hospital, where Chavez is staying at after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Edwin Montilva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheers outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader's homecoming will fuel supporters' hopes he could return to active rule but there was no new information on his medical state and Chavez might be simply hoping to smooth a transition. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
A banner with a portrait of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is seen on the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. Banner reads, "Revolution, independence, health or nothing. " REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a copy of the newspapers as his daughters, Rosa Virginia (R) and Maria watch while recovering from cancer surgery in Havana in this photograph released by the Ministry of Information on February 15, 2013. Venezuela's government published the first pictures of cancer-stricken Chavez since his operation in Cuba more than two months ago, showing him smiling while lying in bed reading a newspaper, flanked by his two daughters. The 58-year-old socialist leader had not been seen in public since the Dec. 11 surgery, his fourth operation in less than 18 months. The government said the photos were taken in Havana on February 14, 2013. REUTERS/Ministry of Information/Handout
A woman holds a painting of President Hugo Chavez as supporters gather around Bolivar square after his return to the country in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of medical treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery. The government didn't offer an explanation as to why Chavez made his surprise return while he is undergoing other treatments that have not been specified. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A man sells prints at 20 bolivars each, about 3.00 U.S. dollars, of one of the photographs released Friday by the Venezuelan government showing President Hugo Chavez with his daughters Maria Gabriela, left, and Rosa Virginia, right, at Bolivar square in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Amid widespread speculation and rumors in Venezuela about Chavez's delicate condition following his Dec. 11 cancer surgery, the government released the first photos of the ailing president in more than two months on Friday, presenting images of him smiling alongside his daughters in Cuba. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a heart-shaped placard with his image in Bolivar Square, where supporters gathered to celebrate his return, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of medical treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on television that Chavez arrived at 2:30 a.m. and was taken to the Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital in Caracas, where he will continue his treatment. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds pictures of Jesus Christ and Chavez outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured during his school years in his hometown of Barinas, in this undated handout photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured as second lieutenant at the Military Academy in Caracas in this undated photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured at a party during his time at Military Academy in Caracas in this undated photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured during his Military Academy years with his parents Elena and Hugo, in this undated handout photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured with the army baseball team during his Military Academy years, in this 1972 handout photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured at his cell during his period at Yare prison (1992-94), in this undated handout photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. REUTERS/Ministry of Information and Communication/Handout
A photo taken on July 03, 2012 shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez walking during a promotion ceremony in Caracas. President Hugo Chavez returned to Venezuela early on February 18, 2013 after spending more than two months in Cuba for cancer surgery and treatment, announcing his surprise homecoming via Twitter. JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images
Venezuelan students pray as they chain themselves to each other during a demonstration near the Cuban embassy in Caracas February 15, 2013. Opposition demonstrators protested outside the embassy in Caracas, demanding that Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez return to Venezuela and calling for more information about his condition. Chavez has not been seen in public for more than two months since undergoing cancer surgery in Havana on December 11. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Students demonstrate in front of a line of National Guard soldiers in riot gear before the Cuban embassy in Caracas on February 15, 2013. The demonstrators were demanding the release of seven college students that were arrested hours earlier, while protesting that the "Castro brothers are ruling Venezuela" while President Hugo Chavez is hospitalized there. GERALDO CASO/AFP/Getty Images
A Venezuelan student holds a sign reading "I know how to use Photoshop too. We don't want photographs. We demand respect", during a protest before the Cuban embassy in Caracas on February 16, 2013, stating that the "Castro brothers are ruling Venezuela" while President Hugo Chavez is hospitalized in Cuba. GERALDO CASO/AFP/Getty Images
A car with a picture and poster of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and the word "he's back' drives past a military hospital, where Chavez is staying at after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos of him were published on Friday. REUTERS/Edwin Montilva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Edwin Montilva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11, 2012. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader's homecoming will fuel supporters' hopes he could return to active rule but there was no new information on his medical state and Chavez might be simply hoping to smooth a transition. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez takes part in a gathering at Plaza Bolivar in Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez take part in a gathering at Plaza Bolivar in Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheers outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gather at Plaza Bolivar in Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11 and had not been seen or heard in public until photos of him were published on Friday. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez walks outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
A man prepares orange juice next to a puppet depicting Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez outside the military hospital after his surprise return to Caracas February 18, 2013. Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has jeopardized his 14-year rule of the South American OPEC member. The 58-year-old socialist leader underwent a six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11, 2012.. He had not been seen or heard in public since then until photos were published of him on Friday. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gather at Simon Bolivar Square in Caracas to celebrate after Chavez announced on Twitter that he had returned to the country from Cuba and is hospitalized at a military hospital in the Venezuelan capital, on February 18, 2013. Chavez returned to Venezuela early on Monday after spending more than two months in Cuba for cancer surgery and treatment, announcing his surprise homecoming via Twitter. "We have arrived again to the Venezuelan motherland," Chavez wrote. "Thank you, God. Thank you, my beloved people. We will continue my treatment here." JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images
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