Yesterday afternoon, Ernesto Villegas, Minister of Communication in Venezuela, confirmed a "new and severe infection" of President Hugo Chavez.

Just a few days ago, Vice President Nicolas Maduro indicated that the president was fighting for his life and was going through more chemotherapy treatments.

Villegas said, "the president has been undergoing some strong chemotherapy treatments along with other therapies according to the developments of his health condition," and noted that Chavez status remained very delicate.

The Spanish newspaper ABC provided new information this morning, in which they indicated that there could be a possibility that Chavez has been secretly transported back to Cuba.

It is presumed that the trip could have taken place on Friday after a medical emergency from La Orchila, where Hugo Chavez was being attended at along with his family by his side, just in case.

Venezuelan authorities had initially indicated that the President would remain in a military hospital in Caracas, but there have been no recent confirmations of him being there.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com