Venezuela's Chavez may face chemotherapy

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that he may need radiotherapy or chemotherapy for ongoing cancer treatment, the presidential office said.

Mystery has surrounded the 56-year-old socialist leader's precise condition since surgery in Cuba last month to remove a cancerous tumour.

Allies of Chavez insist he is in a recovery phase, but one source close to his medical team has said he faces lengthy chemotherapy for colon cancer.

"I'm in the second stage of the disease, (going through) an organ-by-organ assessment and other factors, I mustn't give more details," Chavez told state TV, according to a transcript.

His office said the next phase of treatment "could mean the application of radiotherapy or chemotherapy."

Though he has reasserted political control with his return to Venezuela last week, Chavez's battle to regain his health has raised questions over his ability to govern and to run for re-election in 2012 as planned.

Chavez said he would have "rehabilitation" treatment later on Wednesday but still planned to watch a broadcast of Venezuela's soccer game against Paraguay in the regional Copa America tournament.

"Neither my colon nor my stomach are chopped into bits, not at all," he said in the radio interview. "Long live life! We will fight against all types of cancer, those produced by capitalism."

The usually loquacious Chavez, famous for hours-long speeches and a punishing work schedule, has reduced his public appearances to short, stage-managed segments since returning from Havana.

On Tuesday evening, he attended a Catholic Mass for his health at a military academy.

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne)