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Venezuela's Chavez to be Embalmed, Displayed in Museum



Supporters Mourn Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

Supporters of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez react as they view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
1/11 Supporters of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez react as they view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez protest over others cutting the line as they wait to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
2/11 Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez protest over others cutting the line as they wait to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez line up to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
3/11 Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez line up to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Chavez supporters react after his death was announced, Caracas, Venezuela, March 5, 2013.
4/11 Chavez supporters react after his death was announced, Caracas, Venezuela, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cries as she holds a sign that reads in Spanish "I am Chavez," in Bolivar square, Caracas, Venezuela, March 5, 2013.
5/11 A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cries as she holds a sign that reads in Spanish "I am Chavez," in Bolivar square, Caracas, Venezuela, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
A woman places a candle in front of an image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez outside Venezuela's embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, March 5, 2013.
6/11 A woman places a candle in front of an image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez outside Venezuela's embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
A mourning ribbon with the colors of the Mexican flag sits next to an image of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in front of Venezuela's embassy in Mexico City, March 5, 2013.
7/11 A mourning ribbon with the colors of the Mexican flag sits next to an image of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in front of Venezuela's embassy in Mexico City, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Argentine supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez demonstrate in front of Venezuela's embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 5, 2013.
8/11 Argentine supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez demonstrate in front of Venezuela's embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Argentine supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pose for pictures wearing T-shirts with images of Chavez, left, and Argentina's late President Nestor Kirchner, right, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 5, 2013.
9/11 Argentine supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pose for pictures wearing T-shirts with images of Chavez, left, and Argentina's late President Nestor Kirchner, right, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
A man holds up an image of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during a demonstration in Managua, Nicaragua, March 5, 2013.
10/11 A man holds up an image of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during a demonstration in Managua, Nicaragua, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
Candles, placed by mourner demonstrators, burn in front of an image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez outside Venezuela's embassy in Quito, Ecuador, March 5, 2013.
11/11 Candles, placed by mourner demonstrators, burn in front of an image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez outside Venezuela's embassy in Quito, Ecuador, March 5, 2013.
The longtime socialist leader died Tuesday in a military hospital after a long struggle with cancer. He was 58.
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President Chavez will be honored at a state funeral Friday, attended by 30 heads of state. The United States is sending a diplomatic delegation.

Thousands of grieving Venezuelans waited for as long as 10 hours to look at Chavez's body in Caracas.

President Chavez died Tuesday after a two-year fight against cancer. He was 58 years old.

Chavez, a staunch socialist, was elected president in 1998. He earned the enmity of the United States and others for such policies as nationalizing major companies and courting world leaders such as Fidel Castro, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.

The country's opposition accused him of being a dictator. But millions of poor Venezuelans revered him for using the country's vast oil wealth to give them access to low-cost food, free medical care and other social programs. However, experts say Chavez failed to control crime or use oil wealth to enrich the overall economy.
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