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Hugo Chavez dies at 58

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  • Description

    Venezuelan president loses two-year battle with cancer

  • Duration 3:23
  • Date

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This transcript is automatically generated

Won't.

The woman -- new.

Hugo Rafael shot his free gas Venezuelan president and political quote the United States is dead after losing a battle with cancer.

The socialist leader underwent -- treatment in Cuba for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Having at least three operations including one to remove a tumor he described as the size of a base ball from his abdomen.

It's frequent absences from public view that the widespread rumors -- it held.

And stood in marked contrast to its usual style of appearing on television for hours at a time.

Speaking reading and occasionally singing.

-- to school teachers Travis was born in 1954.

In rural Venezuela.

He grew up with hopes of becoming a professional baseball player.

Instead he entered the military rising to the rank of colonel and engineering -- failed coup attempt in 1992.

Chavez was jailed but soon released and ran unsuccessfully for president in 1998.

We don't know.

Backed largely by Venezuela's poor he promised to spread the wealth from the nation's oil reserves his role models were Fidel Castro and from history si -- believe -- Who me idolize -- the cult of personality.

Even renaming the country as the boulevard in Republic of Venezuela.

Chavez introduced a new constitution.

And attempt to consolidate power.

Radical moves led to street protests and it puts him which briefly removed him from office.

Two days later he was returned to power with that bitter hatred for the US government.

Whom he'd blame for the -- example when -- asked slew -- Somalia you refer to the US says the evil empire.

And famously branded US president George W.

Bush as the devil during addressed the United Nations.

And he warned his countryman frequently of an impending US invasion of Venezuela.

It's not.

-- Erratic behavior was increasingly criticized as -- life.

But Chavez would win reelection twice relying on high oil prices to fund.

Why drinking ambitions at home and he hoped as a global counterweight to US influence.

In a nation of thirty million it was one man Hugo Chavez.

Who controlled the presidency the parliament -- we'll judiciary and the media.

Shutting down any television or radio stations which were critical of his rule.

And forging ahead with increased government control over the private sector.

Nationalize it became a catch phrase Chavis would say -- front of the cameras pointing to a business or building it would suddenly by virtue of his degree.

Over the under state control Travis continued to enjoys strong support -- -- as well -- -- despite increasing street violence.

And one of the highest inflation rates in the world.

I don't know.

Winning good health he was a constant presence on state controlled television -- hours long speeches which bylaw had to be carried on every channel.

His absence creates a vacuum of power which both supporters and opponents will no doubt try to claim.

The big question is with divisions between the two sides so bitter weather any transition can be achieved peacefully.

Hugo Chavez and it has whales will get the sixth president on dead from cancer and I like the -- Steve Harrigan Fox News.

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