Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez headed to Cuba on Saturday for an unknown period of time for chemotherapy after giving up some powers and saying doctors had found no malignant cells in his body after cancer surgery last month. Chavez, 56, resisted opposition calls to temporarily hand the presidency of the South American OPEC member to his vice president during his absence. Instead, he delegated subordinates limited powers that included budgetary matters. A former soldier whose long working hours and image of invincibility have helped him win numerous votes, Chavez is now visibly weakened as he plans a bid for re-election in 2012.
