Chavez returns to Venezuela after cancer surgery

CARACAS — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday, officials said, after a controversial extended stay in Cuba where he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor."We got here as the sun was rising. So very happy to be back home," Chavez said on Venezuelan state television as he arrived in time for July 5 bicentennial celebrations.Chavez had been in Cuba since June 8, and was rushed to hospital on June 10 for what was initially described as a "pelvic abscess." He revealed Thursday he had a cancerous growth, which was fully removed in a second operation.Caracas has not given details on what follow-up cancer treatment Chavez might get, or the type of cancer from which the 56-year-old is suffering.Chavez, who survived a coup attempt in 2002, announced in a video on Thursday from Havana that a cancerous tumor had been removed from his body but that he was expecting a full recovery.The news cut short a host of rumors about Chavez's health, fueled by his nearly month-long stay in the Cuban capital.On Sunday the Cuban government released photos of Chavez taking a short walk with his daughters Maria Gabriela and Rosa Virginia, and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro. Chavez was dressed in sports clothes and appeared much thinner than usual.The four pictures appeared on the government-run website cubadebate.cu, which said the Venezuelan leader's walk took place on Friday and continued for about 10 minutes.Later Sunday, Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro expressed confidence that the Venezuelan president will achieve a "big victory" in his battle against cancer."I can state without hesitation that the results of the operation were impressive and that the patient had fought a decisive battle that will lead him and the Venezuelan people to a big victory," Castro wrote on cubadebate.cu.Some Venezuelan opposition lawmakers argue that the president was staying abroad unconstitutionally because he has not requested lawmakers' permission for the extended stay.But Chavez's governm

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