Venezuela's Defense Minister says army will support Chavez

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela's Defense Minister says army will support Chavez


January 17, 2013 - 09:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuela's armed forces will back ailing President Hugo Chavez's new term amid uncertainty of what a possible power transition might look like, the country's defense minister said, according to CNN.

Chavez was unable to be sworn in last week for a new term because he is in Cuba recovering from a fourth cancer surgery. His absence at the inauguration raised constitutional questions about who is in charge of the country, opposition politicians said.

The Supreme Court clarified the issue last week, ruling that Chavez remains president and can be sworn in at a later date.

The army will defend that decision, Defense Minister Diego Molero Bellavia said Wednesday. "Soldiers will abide by and enforce the Supreme Court decision to allow the head of state to return home when his health improves," he said.

Molero added that the armed forces have "unconditional loyalty, now more than ever, to commander Hugo Chavez."

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