'Talk to us,' Venezuela's Capriles urges Chávez

Venezuela's opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, called today for a proof of life from ailing President Hugo Chávez who has not been seen since cancer surgery in Cuba five weeks ago.

Chávez's signature appeared in the government's official gazette on today decreeing his new foreign minister - though the document wrongly placed him in Caracas.

"If the president of the republic can sign decrees, I call on him to show himself, to talk to Venezuela," Capriles said at his inauguration for a new term as Miranda state governor.

"He should tell us everything that's happening in government because what we have in Venezuela is misgovernment."

Officials say Chávez, 58, is improving despite his grave situation after a fourth operation on Dec. 11 for a cancer first detected in the pelvic area in mid-2011.

Many Venezuelans suspect, however, that he could be dying or unable to return to active rule after 14 years at the helm of the South American OPEC member of 29 million people.

Stirring the national guessing-game over Chávez's condition, the appearance of his signature had Venezuelans wondering whether the president had signed the decree from his hospital room or if officials might have scanned an old one.

Allies insist Chávez remains in charge and is giving instructions from Cuba, though that infuriates the opposition who fume that Venezuela's capital has become Havana.