The coffin of Hugo Chavez being driven through the streets of the Venezuelan capital Caracas
Culled from SKY NEWS
A military parade is being held to carry the remains of President Hugo Chavez through the streets of the Venezuelan capital Caracas. The country's foreign minister, Elias Jose Jaua Milano, declared seven days of mourning for the controversial socialist leader, who died at the age of 58 after losing his battle with cancer.
His coffin left Caracas' military hospital earlier for his body to be escorted through the city, reports Sky News. It will then lie in state at a military academy until a public funeral on Friday. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans filled the streets with many crying, hugging each other, or shouting slogans of support.
A sea of red, yellow and blue - the colours of the national flag - surrounded Chavez's coffin as supporters joined the procession to celebrate and pay their respects to the leader they loved.
Clusters of women with tears streaming down their faces clung to each other and wept near the Miraflores presidential palace. Some wore T-shirts with slogans that read: "Go forward commander!"
Nearby, men pumped their arms in the air while shouting: "Long live Chavez! Long live Chavismo!"
Vice President Nicolas Maduro fought back tears as he announced the death on Tuesday night in a national television broadcast.
He said Chavez, who had been in power for 14 years, died at 4.25pm local time "after battling a tough illness for nearly two years".
Amid fears of unrest, Maduro also said the army and police had been deployed "to accompany and protect our people and guarantee the peace".
Jaua Milano said Maduro would take over the presidency until fresh elections can take place in around 30 days.
Chavez had been receiving cancer treatment in Cuba on and off since June 2011 - when he was first diagnosed with the illness.
The announcement of his death came just hours after Maduro announced the government had expelled two US diplomats from the country.
He had said Chavez's illness had been induced by foul play by "the historical enemies of our homeland".
People have been gathering outside the military hospital where Chavez died. Soldiers in riot gear stood shoulder to shoulder guarding the complex.
"I feel such big pain I can't even speak," said Yamilina Barrios, a 39-year-old office worker weeping at a street corner. "He was the best thing the country had ... I adore him. Let's hope the country calms down and we can continue the tasks he left us."
The government announced late on Monday that Chavez's condition was "very delicate" due to a "new, severe" respiratory infection.
Chavez had not been seen in public or heard since undergoing a fourth round of surgery in Cuba on December 11.
The government said he returned home on February 18, and had been confined to Caracas' military hospital ever since.
During his time in power, Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and internationally.
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