VP Maduro says he met with Chávez for more than five hours

Vice-President Nicolás Maduro reported just after 11:30 pm on Friday that President Hugo Chávez "is receiving treatments" and "continues with assisted breathing through a cannula."

From the Dr. Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital, south Caracas, Maduro said Chávez communicates in writing, and managed to hold a meeting with the government team for nearly five hours.

He stressed that Chávez continues to be strong, adding that the president is going through this serious phase in his illness "because he devoted himself to the cause" of working for the country.

Regarding the agenda of the meeting, Maduro said Chávez received a number of reports of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin). "We are closely watching over" the situations and rumors that have emerged in the country in the last hours.

He noted that Chávez has been monitoring the "economic war" designed by the enemies of Venezuela. "Regarding the speculative attacks on the currency and the hoarding of goods, additional moves will be made," he said.

"Over the next few weeks" various economic decisions will be announced, in order to "preserve public investment," he explained.

Maduro said the government team and Chávez "met from afternoon until this hour -five hours in three working sessions."

Maduro told state-run television channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) that on Saturday they would provide additional information on the issues addressed in the meeting. Decisions will be made in the coming hours in various areas, he said.

Nicolas Maduro thanked the solidarity to the president. "It is a historical demonstration," he said.

Speaker of the National Assembly (AN) Diosdado Cabello, Minister of Communication and Information Ernesto Villegas, Minister of Science and Technology Jorge Arreaza and President of Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) Rafael Ramírez accompanied Maduro during his message.