US: Venezuelans are to decide how the transition will take place

In a press conference, US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that Washington hoped Venezuelans to decide how the transition of power would be, in view of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's illness. She also called for respect for the Venezuelan Constitution, AFP informed.

"We've obviously seen the press reports about his return," the spokesperson of the US Department of State underscored, following Chávez announcement on Twitter about his surprising return to Venezuela, which took place 10 weeks after undergoing a cancer surgery in Cuba on December 11.

"It's obviously a matter for Venezuelans to decide how the transition is going to take place. As you know, there was an election, but there hasn't been a swearing-in. Should President Chávez become permanently unavailable to serve, our understanding is that the Venezuelan Constitution requires that there be an election to elect a new president," the spokesperson remarked.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera