BBC News with David Austin

President Hugo Chavez has returned home to Venezuela from Cuba, where he admitted having cancer surgery. His long absence and

initial

secrecy about his medical condition

provoke

d uncertainty in Venezuela. From Caracas, Sarah Grainger.

President Chavez arrived at Caracas's international airport in the early hours of Monday morning. He's expected to appear later in the day on the balcony of the presidential palace in Caracas to greet his supporters. Official pictures of the arrival show him smiling and embracing some of his ministers - a much happier Hugo Chavez than the one we saw a few days ago announcing to Venezuelans he'd been treated for cancer. After more than four weeks away, President Chavez has returned

in time

to celebrate Venezuela's

bicentenary

of independence from Spain, which begins at midnight.

A French writer who alleges she was attacked nine years ago by the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is preparing to file a criminal complaint against him. A lawyer for the writer, Tristane Banon, said she would file a lawsuit alleging attempted rape. From Paris, Christian Fraser.

Ms Banon spoke of this incident on a chat show in 2007, alleging Mr Strauss-Kahn attacked her when she went to interview him, aged 22. She claims the pair of them

wrestle

d on the floor of his apartment as he tried to unhook her bra. Back in May, Ms Banon said that