The Venezuelan government says President Hugo Chávez has suffered internal bleeding following his cancer surgery in Cuba earlier this week but is still showing signs of recovery. It is unclear if Chávez will be healthy enough to return to Venezuela in time for his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for January 10th. Predicting a “complex and difficult” recovery process, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro called for national unity while Chávez is on the mend.

Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro: “It is very clear that we present the need for our people to accompany him in his treatment, but also that our people be serenely prepared to face these hard, complex and difficult days that we will have to live through. These are situations that are complex and difficult that can only be faced with the people’s unity.”