Chavez launches poll campaign

Thousands of supporters thronged the streets of Caracas late Monday to join cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as he registered to seek reelection amid ongoing concerns about his health.
The president sought to play down any concerns he might seek to extend his long-ruling socialist government -- which has nationalised strategic industries and heaped praise on Cuba's Communist model -- should he lose at the polls.
If he were to be reelected and serve out his term through 2019, Chavez would end up spending 20 years in office.
The Venezuelan government has disclosed few details about Chavez's health, leading to intense speculation over the political future of Latin America's most prominent leftist leader.