VENEZUELA: 5 JULY UPDATE: Sorpresa Gigante! Hugo Chavez Returns To Caracas.

  LINK UPDATE / GUARDIAN...with 2:57 video of speech


   Despite dire predictions of 6-9 months recovery in La Habana from recent cancer surgery, President Hugo Chavez has spiked those rumors...and returned - dramatically - to Caracas.
   The notoriously unpredictable 56-year-old returned in time to celebrate Venezuela's 200th anniversary of independence from Spain.
   Much thinner, he addressed a cheering throng outside the presidential palace.
   Most TV stations had hyped his early evening address...with the catch phrase "pa'lante comandante"..."onwards commander."


  His opponents had been insisting that Hugo return or give power to Vice President Elías Jaua.  Jaua disagreed and claimed that Venezuelan law allowed Chavez to govern from outside the country for as long as six months.

   Chavez declared himself “fine” despite speculation he may still require lengthy treatment.
“Here I am, home and happy! Good morning, my beloved Venezuela,” Chavez said, punching his fist. “Now I'm going to get some rest”.


 "He is a micro-manager par excellence, convinced of his own indispensability. Thus a premature return is less surprising from Chávez than a prolonged absence," said a USA observer.