President of Venezuela has died in Caracas, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on TV. The military and the police were mobilized to maintain order. Maduro urged the president’s opponents to respect people’s pain and called for peace, RIA Novosti reports.
Madurov has become the acting President of Venezuela. Defense Minister Diego Molero said that they will continue respecting the Constitution and orders of their leader.
Chavez’s funeral will start on Friday. The country will have 7-day mourning. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said that a new president will be elected in less than a month.
Chavez became the country’s leader in February 1999. He won presidential polls three times. He won the elections in October 2012 and was to be in control of the country until 2019. A referendum extending re-election was held in 2009.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that Chavez was modernizing the country.
US President Barack Obama noted the strive for constructive relations with Venezuela. The US was devoted to democratic principles, respect of law and human rights.
