Chavez's Health Not Good, Says Venezuela

Still struggling to breathe

President Hugo Chávez, who returned to Venezuela Monday after undergoing medical treatment in Cuba, continues to suffer respiratory problems in his two-year battle with cancer, the Venezuelan government said in a somber statement Thursday.

"Respiratory inefficiencies that emerged in the post-operative period persist and his tendency hasn't been favorable," according to an official statement read on national TV by Information Minister Ernesto Villegas.

It was the first official communique on El Comandante's condition since his surprise return from at 2:30 a.m. local time on Monday.