Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will not take the oath for a new term in office on Thursday, the government has said.

Mr Chavez is in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery, and has suffered complications caused by a lung infection.

He has not been seen in public since his operation last month.

Venezuela’s opposition has called for the Supreme Court to rule on what should be done if Mr Chavez is absent.

Its leader, Henrico Capriles, says that if Mr Chavez is not sworn in, then according to the constitution the National Assembly speaker should act as caretaker president until new elections are held within 30 days.

The government insists that the inauguration is a mere formality for an incumbent leader.

Mr Chavez has been president since 1999.

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