Death of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez mourned across the world

07 March, 2013

Hugo Rafael Chavez, the President of Venezuela and firebrand socialist, died on March 5 and that seems to be the end of an era for this Latin American country. He was a popular leader and country's president for 14 years since 1999. Chavez died on Tuesday at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer.

Hugo Chavez created and followed his own political ideology of Bolivarianism, and implemented socialist reforms called the Bolivarian Revolution through participatory democratic councils.

Thousands of people crying, wailing and shouting paraded Chavez's coffin draped in Venezuela's national flag through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday. Chavez’s body was taken to a military academy where it would be kept until his state funeral on Friday.

Along with the ideological allies like Cuba in Latin America along with the leaders of Russia, China, and Iran paid rich tributes to the departed leader. Cuba has declared three days of mourning in honour of its closest regional ally.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, “Venezuela lost its brave, strong son and the world lost a wise and revolutionary leader.”

According to Chavez's biographers Marcano and Tyszka, he has earned his place in history as the most loved president who inspired the greatest zeal among his countrymen.