'Cancer-hit' Chavez dismisses 'deteriorating health' rumours

Caracas, Apr 24 (ANI): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has dismissed rumours that his health took a turn for the worse, and added that he is planning to return home by Thursday after his latest round of cancer treatment in Cuba.

Chavez, who appeared in a live phone call on state television, dismissed rumors of complications in his treatment.

"We'll have to get used to living in the coming days and weeks and months among those rumors, and well, when necessary come out to make them crumble," The Washinngton Post quoted Chavez, as saying.

According to the paper, he blamed "dirty war laboratories" and his opponents for the rumors.

Chavez said once he is back in Venezuela, he would return to Cuba for one more round of radiation treatment.

"They're rough treatments. And you have to rise up to the level with a lot of will, a lot of strength, a lot of faith," the paper quoted him, as saying.

Chavez began radiation treatment in Cuba in late March after undergoing an operation in February that removed a second tumor from his pelvic region.

He has kept secret some details of his illness, including the type of cancer and the precise location of the tumors. (ANI)