Chavez battling for life, says VP

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's vice-president said yesterday that Hugo Chavez is still fighting for his life.
Nicolas Maduro, Chavez's self-appointed successor, said on television that his boss “is battling there for his health, for his life, and we're accompanying him”.
The vice-president had characterised Chavez's condition similarly on December 20, saying the president “is fighting a great battle… for his life, for his health”.