Venezuela gov't, army insist Chavez still in charge

CARACAS (Reuters) - Military and civilian allies of Venezuela's convalescent President Hugo Chavez insisted on Friday he was still running the OPEC oil-producing nation despite his prolonged absence in Cuba for the removal of a cancerous tumour.

Army chief General Henry Rangel Silva and ministers moved quickly to head off speculation about a possible power vacuum or political infighting after Chavez, 56, revealed late on Thursday he was still receiving treatment after the operation.