Venezuelan Officials Says Chavez is Conscious

Fighting an infection picked up after cancer surgery

The health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has evolved in a "favourable" way in recent days, although he still requires treatment for respiratory failure, the government has said.

"Despite his delicate state … in recent days the general medical evolution has been favourable," said the latest official
statement on Chavez's health on Sunday.

"The respiratory infection is controlled, though the commander-president still requires specific measures to solve
breathing insufficiency … he is conscious."