[01:15.82]and has called on the nation to close ranks behind the ailing leader.
[01:20.02]Nicolas Maduro said Mr. Chavez who’s been receiving treatment for cancer has suffered very severe respiratory complications.
[01:27.44]Emily Buchanan reports
[01:29.11]It’s two months since Mr. Chavez was due to be newly inaugurated, two months in which his absence from public view has fueled rumors and speculation.
[01:39.40]The president’s chosen successor, his Vice President Nicolas Maduro addressed a cabinet meeting live on state television.
[01:47.55]He said a U.S. military attaché was being expelled and he denounced conspiracies, even suggested Mr. Chavez’s illness was brought on by an enemy attack.
[01:57.90]Share prices in New York have risen to an old time high.
[02:01.72]The main share indexes in Wall Street have passed the previous record.
[02:05.46]Here is Samir Hasan.
[02:07.12]The Dow broke its previous record high set in October 2007 before the global financial meltdown.
[02:14.74]Analysts believe strong European sales and China’s economic growth targets are fueling the Dow’s rally.
[02:21.82]Recent economic debt in the U.S. is also contributing.
[02:25.75]The U.S. housing market is seen as recovering and U.S. companies are slowly starting to hire again.
[02:31.72]London’s index also rose to its highest closing level for more than five years.