Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died, according to Vice President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Chavez, the democratically-elected leader who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela and crusaded against US influence, died on Tuesday at the age of 58 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, announced the death in a national television broadcast.

He said Mr Chavez died at 4.25pm local time.

During more than 14 years in office, Mr Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and internationally.

He was a masterful communicator and strategist who won broad support, particularly among the poor.

Mr Chavez repeatedly proved himself a political survivor.

As an army paratroop commander, he led a failed coup in 1992, then was pardoned and elected president in 1998.

He survived a coup against his own presidency in 2002 and won re-election two more times.

Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/venezuelan-president-hugo-chavez-dies-aged-58-after-twoyear-battle-with-cancer-29111548.html