Venezuela’s Chavez in stable condition, says son-in-law

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in stable condition and spent yesterday with his daughters, the cancer-stricken leader’s son-in-law said in an appeal for supporters to ignore rumors about his condition.

Chavez has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks. The vice president said late on Sunday that the 58-year-old was suffering a third set of complications after surgery in Cuba on December 11, his fourth operation in 18 months.

“Compatriots, DON’T believe in ill-intentioned rumours,” Science Minister Jorge Arreaza, who is married to Chavez’s daughter Rosa Virginia, wrote on Twitter from Havana where they have been at the former soldier’s bedside.“President Chavez spent the day quietly and stable, accompanied by his daughters.”

Chavez has not provided details of the cancer that was first diagnosed in June 2011, leading to speculation among Venezuela’s 29 million people and criticism from opposition leaders.