Chavez 'battling for his life'

Cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is "battling for his life" because he "gave his life" for those who have nothing, the vice president said, reported UPI. "He's battling for his life, for his health, and we are there with him," Nicolas Maduro said in nationally televised remarks at a ceremony at a parish house in Caracas, the capital. "Our commander is sick because he gave his life for those who don't have anything," Maduro said in a ceremony giving government housing to people in a slum who lost their homes in 2010 torrential rains. The 58-year-old Chavez -- reported by the government to be in a downtown Caracas military hospital since Feb. 18 after being treated in Havana for complications following Dec. 11 cancer surgery in Cuba -- spent many sleepless hours thinking of how to improve housing, services and the quality of life for Venezuelans but forgot about his own health, Maduro said.