Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the controversial leader who championed a socialist revolution in his country, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 58.
Vice-President Nicolas Maduro made the sombre announcement on national television Tuesday, saying Chavez died at 4:25 p.m. local time at a military hospital in Caracas.
As the news reverberated around the world, grieving Venezuelans spilled out into the streets of the capital, crying and shouting: “Long live Chavez!” Many offices and businesses closed early and extra police officers were dispatched to monitor roads blocked by traffic and crowds.