Venezuela VP visits ailing Chávez

HAVANA, Cuba (AP):

Venezuela's vice-president arrived in Havana on Saturday in a sudden and unexpected trip to visit President Hugo Chávez as he recovers from cancer surgery.

Communist Party newspaper Granma published online a photo of a smiling Vice-President Nicolas Maduro being greeted at the airport in the Cuban capital by the island's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez.

"From there, (Maduro) went directly to the hospital where President Hugo Chávez Frias is receiving treatment to greet his family members and Venezuelan Science and Technology Minister Jorge Arreaza Monserrat, and to discuss with doctors the adequate moment to visit the president the same day," the paper said.

no information

Granma added that Maduro was accompanied by Venezuelan Attorney General Cilia Flores.

The previous night in Caracas, Venezuela, Maduro did not specify how long he would be away but said Energy Minister Hector Navarro would be in charge of government affairs in the meantime. Maduro's announcement came at the end of a long speech at the inauguration of a state governor, and he offered no information on the purpose of his visit beyond seeing Chávez.

In a speech on Saturday, Venezuela's National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said only that Maduro went to Cuba to visit with Chávez and urge him "to follow his treatment". Venezuelan press officials in Caracas said they had no additional information Saturday.

Maduro's trip comes amid growing uncertainty about Chávez's health.