Newspaper withdraws sick Chavez ‘photo’

Spain’s influential El Pais newspaper has apologised for publishing a “false photo” of elusive, cancer-stricken Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, removed the image from its website and withdrew its print edition.

Chavez is currently convalescing in Cuba after undergoing surgery for cancer for the fourth time on Dec 11.

He has not been seen publicly for six weeks, fuelling rampant speculation over how serious his condition is.