President Chavez made the announcement on national TV and Radio Saturday night, during a meeting with his Council of Ministers, AVN news agency reported.

During his TV appearance, Chavez signed his petition to the National Assembly requesting permission to travel to Cuba, where he had traveled last week for oxygen hyperbaric sessions. During his medical treatment in Havana, new examinations revealed the presence of new cancerous cells, which requires surgery.

During his absence from Venezuela, Vice-president Nicolas Maduro will be in charge of the government.

Following the announcement, the people stormed social media networks like twitter posting messages of support and encouragement for their president. Meanwhile, Information minister Ernesto Villegas invited the people to gather in all Bolivar squares on Sunday, throughout the nation to express their solidarity with the head of state.