By IANS/EFE,
Caracas : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived early Monday in Caracas aboard an airplane from Cuba, state-owned VTV reported.
Chavez arrived at 2 a.m. and the state television network showed pictures of the president as he was greeted at Venezuela’s Maiquetia airport and, previously, as he was leaving from Havana, where he was seen off by Cuban President Raul Castro.
“Very happy to be home again…right now we’re having breakfast,” Chavez told VTV after his arrival from Cuba, where he had spent several weeks.
Chavez revealed last Thursday that he had undergone an operation in Cuba to remove a tumour and that he has been receiving treatment for cancer.
The president said that his return is like “the beginning of my comeback”, that he will have “a brief rest this morning” and that subsequently he must follow a regime of “strict medical checkups” and a strict timetable of medication and rehabilitation.
Chavez added he has established a timetable for working with his officials.
The president said that he will talk with his ministers about the events scheduled for Tuesday, when Venezuela will celebrate the bicentennial of its independence.
“I don’t believe I’ll be able to accompany them at the official ceremonies in the morning but I’ll be here,” Chavez said.
The president said he has had some “very deep” reflections as a result of “very difficult” days and “hours of anguish”.
State television showed scenes of Chavez being greeted by Vice President Elias Jaua, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, his brother Adan Chavez and others at Maiquetia airport.