Chavez to head to Cuba for more chemo

CARACAS—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was set to travel to Cuba again on Saturday for a second round of chemotherapy treatment following the removal of a cancerous tumor in June.

The 57-year-old Chavez announced late Friday that he would head to Havana on Saturday to pursue his treatment, asking parliament to approve the trip — needed for the president to leave the country for more than five days.

Lawmakers unanimously obliged on Saturday in a brief session.

Chavez said last month he had “successfully” finished a first round of chemotherapy and was preparing for the second round, but did not disclose his treatment schedule. He said no malignant cells had been found in his body.

“There will be several rounds in order to win this battle and eliminate all risk of malignant cells,” he said, pledging to show “unsurpassable” courage in his battle against cancer.

The Venezuelan government has not disclosed the extent of Chavez’s cancer or provided any other details about the disease.

“I’m sure I will overcome this,” Chavez, his head shaved after he lost some hair due as a result of the chemotherapy, said this week.

“I’ll overcome this because it is not just my battle, but a battle faced by millions.”

Chavez, in power since 1999, has said he will run again in 2012 presidential elections, seeking a third six-year term in office.

Cuba, the only one-party communist regime in the Americas, is Chavez’s closest regional ally.