Minister Arreaza: "Chávez is of sound mind"

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is already at the height of his mental faculties after "critical moments on the 11th and 12th days" and has spoken with his relatives, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Jorge Arreaza reported on Saturday.

"The president is already in full possession of his mental faculties and sends his love to the peoples of the Americas," said Arreaza in a telephone contact from La Havana.

"Commander Chávez still wages a battle in this gradual recovery," Arreaza said. "Strained moments were spent on the 11th and 12th days, but we have overcome them little by little," he conceded.

"This post-operative stage of President Chávez has been a progressive process of his general stabilization," the minister added.

According to Arreaza, President Chávez is keeping a watchful eye over the gubernatorial election scheduled for Sunday in Venezuela. "The president asked me to urge the people to take part in the election on Sunday."