Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has vowed an October election victory, in his first public comment after surgery in Cuba this week to remove a pelvic lesion.
On Wednesday evening, President Chavez sent a twitter message to Venezuelans saying, "I send you all my supreme love! We will live and we will win!"
Vice President Elias Jaua says he spoke with President Chavez Wednesday, and described him as "recovering," and "energetic."
Jaua said Cuban doctors removed a pelvic lesion and the surrounding tissue from President Chavez on Monday. Test results on the removed tissue are expected in a few days.
President Chavez latest health saga has raised concerns about his ability to seek reelection and preside over the government.
The vice president says Chavez is staying in close contact with government officials. The president has not delegated authority during his absence.
He traveled to Cuba last week to undergo surgery for what he said was likely a cancerous tumor. Last year, the president had surgery and chemotherapy in Cuba to remove a cancerous growth from his pelvic region.
President Chavez has ruled Venezuela for 13 years and is hoping to be re-elected to another six-year term in October. His opponent will be 39-year-old Henrique Capriles, the winner of the opposition primary earlier this month.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
