Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said Mr Chavez's condition continued to be very delicate.

 

Mr Chavez, 58, returned to Venezuela last month after being treated for cancer in Cuba, but has not appeared in public since.

 

Many Venezuelans have been demanding full details about his health.

 

 

Mr Villegas read out the latest brief update on national television.

 

Speaking from the Caracas military hospital where Mr Chavez is being treated, Mr Villegas said: "Today there is a worsening of respiratory function."

 

He said Mr Chavez was undergoing "intensive chemotherapy（化学疗法）, as well as complementary treatments".

 

"The commander-president remains¹ clinging to Christ and to life, conscious of the difficulties that he is facing, and complying strictly² with the programme designed by his medical team," Mr Villegas said. 

 

Mr Chavez, who has been in office for 14 years, is believed to have cancer in his pelvic（骨盆的） area, but his exact illness has never been disclosed.

 

He announced in June 2011 that he had cancer and has undergone four operations since then, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

 

The president was re-elected for another six-year term in October 2012, but the Supreme³ Court ruled that his swearing-in on 10 January could be delayed because of his illness.

 

At the weekend, hundreds of Venezuelan students and opposition⁴ members marched in Caracas demanding full details about President Chavez's health.

 

He is said to be taking decisions about the country from the hospital bed but there have been mixed messages from officials on his condition.

 

Vice⁵ President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday that Mr Chavez was still having chemotherapy. 

 

On Thursday, Mr Maduro had gone on TV to say Mr Chavez was battling for his life.

点击收听单词发音