Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday, 4 July 2011 after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health.
A handout photo shows former Cuban leader Fidel Castro looking on as Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez reads a document in Havana July 3, 2011. Venezuela's socialist leader Chavez is being treated in Cuba after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. The announcement has rocked the OPEC nation and changed the political dynamics ahead of a 2012 election. REUTERS/Revolution Studios/CubVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez (R) says goodbye to his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro as he boards a plane to return to Caracas for the first time since undergoing treatment for cancer in Cuba, at the airport in Havana, early July 4, 2011. Chavez's surprise return to Venezuela from a rumor-plagued convalescence in Cuba after a cancer operation is the latest theatrical twist of a consummate showman with a career of dramatic comebacks. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/HandVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez gestures as he stands in the doorway of a plane upon arrival from Cuba, where he underwent treatment for cancer, at the airport on the outskirts of Caracas, early July 4, 2011. Chavez's surprise return to Venezuela from a rumor-plagued convalescence in Cuba after a cancer operation is the latest theatrical twist of a consummate showman with a career of dramatic comebacks. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/HandSupporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hold newspapers with a picture of him during a rally in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-unpredictable President Chavez made a surprise homecoming from Cuba on Monday and declared himself "fine" despite speculation his cancer may still require lengthy treatment. The newspaper reads "Onwards Commandant". REUTERSSupporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shout slogans during a rally in Maracaibo July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-unpredictable President Chavez made a surprise homecoming from Cuba on Monday and declared himself "fine" despite speculation his cancer may still require lengthy treatment.REUTERSVenezuelan soldiers greet President Hugo Chavez from a rooftop as he appeared to supporters on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERSSupporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez await his appearance in front of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/HandSupporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez await his appearance in front of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health.
REUTERSSupporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez await his appearance in front of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health.
REUTERSVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets supporters while appearing with his daughters Rosa (L) and Maria on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERSVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez hugs his daughters Rosa (L) and Maria while appearing to supporters on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERSVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets supporters while appearing with his daughters Rosa (L) and Maria on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERSVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez kisses the national flag while appearing to supporters on a balcony of Miraflores Palace soon after his return to the country from Cuba, where he underwent surgery and treatment for cancer, in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERSVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez has condemned the death of Gadhafi, calling it an "outrage."REUTERSVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets Colombia's Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin (R) at Miraflores palace in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERS/Francisco Batista-MiraVenezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) speaks with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Jorge Lara Castro, as Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro looks on, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas July 4, 2011. Venezuela's ever-theatrical Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba, thrilling supporters and saying he would win the battle to regain his health. REUTERS/Francisco Batista-Mira
