[00:00.00]Go to 51voa.com for more... [00:03.85]From VOA Learning English, [00:07.59]this is IN THE NEWS in Special English. [00:11.37]Venezuelans are remembering President Hugo Chavez, [00:16.25]who died after a heart attack earlier this week. [00:20.39]The president had not been seen in public since December. [00:25.32]For the past two years, Hugo Chavez battled pelvic cancer. [00:31.35]He returned to Venezuela last month [00:34.74]following medical treatment in Cuba. [00:38.18]He was unable to attend swearing-in ceremonies [00:42.71]for another term in office in January. [00:46.65]On Tuesday, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro [00:52.22]announced the death of President Chavez. [00:55.62]"We're going to miss him until the last day of our lives [01:05.23]but we carry on his legacy here [01:08.42]and we will carry it on with strength." [01:11.55]Mr. Maduro said the leader's body will be treated [01:16.45]so people can see it for many years to come. [01:20.54]He accused Venezuela's enemies of [01:23.97]attacking the president with cancer. [01:27.32]He did not say how that could have been done. [01:31.20]Hugo Chavez dreamed of playing major league baseball [01:36.18]in the United States, [01:37.98]but instead chose to join the Venezuelan army. [01:42.86]He was jailed in 1992 for leading an unsuccessful attempt [01:49.85]to oust then-president Carlos Andres Perez. [01:54.53]In 1998, Hugo Chavez was himself elected president [02:01.70]after promising to end poverty and corruption. [02:06.49]To help finance social programs, he nationalized, [02:11.19]or seized control of, major businesses, including oil companies. [02:17.57]Millions of Venezuelans loved him [02:21.31]for using the country's oil wealth to provide low-cost food, [02:26.74]free medical care and other programs. [02:31.13]However, the United States and much of Latin America [02:36.30]criticized President Chavez for his social policies [02:41.19]and for nationalizing companies. [02:44.97]They also disapproved of his ties with Cuba, Iran and Libya. [02:52.15]Observers are wondering what will happen to relations [02:56.96]between Venezuela and the United States in the coming months. [03:02.50]After the Venezuelan leader's death, [03:05.88]President Obama said the United States [03:09.43]was re-confirming its support for the Venezuelan people. [03:14.76]President Chavez repeatedly accused the United States of [03:20.12]working against his socialist revolution. [03:24.59]In 2002, the Bush administration supported an effort [03:30.82]to oust the Venezuelan leader. [03:33.56]The overthrow attempt failed. [03:36.91]Over the years, Venezuela has remained a major supplier of [03:42.79]oil to the United States. [03:45.48]It also provides free heating oil [03:49.31]to poor Americans through a non-profit group. [03:54.14]Philip Brenner is with American University in Washington. [03:59.17]He says relations between the nations would be better [04:04.31]if the United States recognized Venezuela's actions [04:09.39]and not symbolic speech. [04:12.83]"I think the important thing to remember about Venezuela [04:15.42]is that they have never even threatened to cut off our oil. [04:19.36]Venezuela has done nothing to actually harm U.S. interests [04:23.49]except to challenge U.S. dominance." [04:27.28]Shortly after the death of President Chavez, [04:30.56]Vice President Maduro announced the expulsion of two American diplomats. [04:37.13]He said they were planning to weaken the Venezuelan government. [04:42.27]The United States has rejected his claim.

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