Chavez to undergo new round of cancer treatment

Chavez said he would check in to the Military Hospital in Caracas on Saturday night and would begin his third phase of chemotherapy soon. He had the last two rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba.

"I'm not going to go to Cuba this time. In the coming hours, between today and tomorrow we'll be preparing for the third cycle," Chavez said during a televised Cabinet meeting.

Later, he appeared on a balcony of the presidential palace waving to a crowd of cheering supporters. They included a group that played Afro-Venezuelan music, beating on drums and dancing. Some chanted: "Onward, commander!"

The leftist leader swung his hips to the music and saluted black Venezuelans, saying: "Down with racism."

Chavez expressed optimism that he is overcoming cancer, referring to the "illness I had." He said he was making arrangements with his vice president, Elias Jaua, and other officials to "continue with this rhythm of treatment."