Crowds collected outside the Caracas hospital where he died, chanting “We are all Chavez!”
Chavez had been seriously ill with cancer for more than a year, and he had not been seen in public for several months reports the BBC.
A self-proclaimed revolutionary, Hugo Chavez was a controversial figure in Venezuela who inspired a left-wing movement across Latin America and was an outspoken criritc of US.
Following his death, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro will assume the presidency until an election is held within 30 days
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