Did Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Really Die of Pelvic Cancer?

Official Venezuelan government version is that the country's president, Hugo Chavez, died of pelvic cancer on Tuesday. Did he really die of the incurable ailment?

AFP just headlined in a newsbreak that the strongman could have died of a heart attack. It cited the head of the presidential guard as the source of the news. However, the details are not yet out although tweetizens immediately retweeted the AFP newsbreak.

Amid a seven-day mourning period for the fallen president, questions are now being raised regarding the real cause of his death since Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro, now the interim president, had apparently suggested someone could have infected his boss with cancer or other agent that caused the deterioration of the 58-year-old leader that hastened his death.

When Mr Chavez admitted publicly in 2011 that he had a tumor, rumours circulated that he was poisoned by the CIA, Forbes contributor Kenneth Rapoza wrote. The president even publicly asked the same question which the U.S. State Department responded that the accusation is reprehensible.

Mr Chavez's curiosity was piqued by the rash of cancer hitting South American leaders such as Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and Dilma Rouseff, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and Argentinean President Cristina Kirchner who was recently diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

An op ed in The Daily Caller written by Christopher Bedford, read: "No, the U.S. didn't kill Chavez. But we should have."

Mr Rapoze pointed out the flaw in Mr Maduro's thinking since cancer is not spread through infection.

After Venezuela buries Mr Chavez on Friday, the next step is for the holding of a snap election within 30 days.

Seen as running for president are Mr Maduro and Mr Chavez's opponent in the October election, Miranda state Governor Henrique Capriles Radonski who lost by only 10 per cent.

A victory by Mr Radonski would be difficult since he would have to work with a National Assembly dominated by allies of the deceased president while if Mr Maduro would win, he would also deal with opposing factions within the Chavista movement.