Hugo Chavez Update: Venezuela expels 2 US officials as Chavez worsens

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Photographer: AP GraphicsBank
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Posted: 03/05/2013

By: Associated Press

UPDATE: Hugo Chavez dies, read story here: mobile link: http://bit.ly/15vU0kp

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan officials say two Americans are being expelled from that country -- including a U.S. Embassy attachΘ who is accused of meeting with military officers and planning to destabilize the country.

The second U.S. official is also described as a U.S. Air Force attachΘ.

The announcement came as supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited churches to pray for his health. Yesterday, the government described his condition as "very delicate." He underwent a fourth cancer surgery in December, and is now said to have a "severe" respiratory infection.

Chavez has ruled Venezuela for more than 14 years, gradually placing all state institutions under his personal control.

Upon his death, the opposition would challenge a government candidate in a snap election that critics said should have been called in January, after Chavez was unable to be sworn in for a new term.