Venezuela's military chief says President Hugo Chavez is still in charge of the country following two operations in Cuba, including the removal of a cancerous tumor.

On Saturday,Mr.Chavez's Foreign Minister said the cancer surgery was performed in the same area of an initial operation three weeks ago to remove a pelvic abscess.

Nicolas Maduro said the six-hour surgery was” pretty serious” and that all of the President's organs were checked and are in good condition.

Also on Saturday, Venezuela's state new agency AVN released four photos of Mr. Chavez , including one showing him taking his routine ten minute walk with some associates, including Maduro, in Havana. The other photos show President Chavez with his two daughters.

President Chavez confirmed in a televised speech to the Venezuelan people late Thursday that he underwent successful surgery in Cuba to remove a tumor with “cancerous cells.”

He did not say what type of cancer is involved, but voiced hope he is on the road to recovery.

Mr. Chavez prolonged stay in Cuba after the first surgery had sparked rumors he may have cancer.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan state television aired footage of the Venezuelan leader walking and talking with his friend, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Also Wednesday, Venezuela canceled a summit of Latin American leaders scheduled for next week in Caracas, due to Mr. Chavez's health status.

The two-day summit was supposed to be the first meeting of a new regional bloc called the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States . Mr. Chavez was to host the summit, which coincided with the 200th anniversary of Venezuela's independence from Spain.

Venezuelan opposition figures have demanded more information about the president's health, saying Mr. Chavez and his aides should be more straightforward. Some opposition politicians have said Vice President Elias Jaua should replace Mr. Chavez until he recovers, a move Jaua has rejected.

Sean Burges, a professor of international relations at Australian National University, told VOA Mr. Chavez's absence has left a power vacuum in Venezuela, because he is the ultimate authority on all policy matters. Burges said Mr. Chavez's illness could lead to uncertainty among Venezuelans heading into the 2012 elections because there is no clear plan of succession in case the president dies.