Venezuela's president, who is recovering from a recent knee operation, underwent surgery Friday morning in Cuba.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said Hugo Chavez had an operation in Havana for a pelvic abscess.

The foreign minister said President Chavez felt ill and was “immediately attended to” by his medical team.

Maduro said Mr. Chavez has begun the recovery process, surrounded by his family, and is expected to return home “in a few days.”

The president was in Cuba for a joint Cuba-Venezuela Commission meeting.