The death of Hugo Chavez: UK pays tribute
British politicians were offering broadly sympathetic appraisals of Hugo Chavez today, after the Venezuelan leader finally succumbed to cancer.
Chavez, 58, died at 16:25 local time of a severe respiratory failure, vice president Nicolas Maduro confirmed to the country, triggering scenes of extraordinary public emotion in Venezuelan cities.
"I was saddened to learn of the death of president Hugo Chavez today," foreign secretary William Hague said.
"As president of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely. I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time."
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who worked with Chavez when he was at City Hall, said: "He was complete unaffected. I just found him one of the easiest people in power I ever dealt with.
"He was focused on poor people in Venezuela but also London and Washington."
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams said: "He dedicated himself to building a new and radical society in Venezuela. His progressive social and economic changes took millions out of poverty.
"He extended free health care and education for all citizens and his re-election last year with a huge majority was testimony to his vision."
Venezuelan vice-president Maduro seemed alive to the possibility of violence in the aftermath of the death. He promised elections within 30 days and called for calm as shops closed and workers returned home.
"Let there be no weakness, no violence. Let there be no hate," he said.
"In our hearts there should only be one sentiment: Love. Love, peace and discipline.'
Maduro was nominated as Chavez' successor shortly before his death but it was a relatively late measure. The leader was unable to cultivate anyone under him with the same degree of flamboyance and charisma which defined him in power.
Chavez was celebrated by the left for his use of oil revenue to boost education and health in Venezuela and his focus on revitalising the desperate slums of the poor South American country.
But he was criticised for closing down a handful of privately-owned TV stations and for his fierce anti-US rhetoric.
