BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuela’s government has released the first photos of President Hugo Chavez since he underwent cancer surgery.

The 58-year-old is shown smiling as he lies in bed reading a newspaper, with his two daughters at his side. In other images, Chavez is shown looking at Thursday’s issue of the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma.

The government released the images amid widespread speculation and rumors in Venezuela about Chavez’s condition. Chavez has not been seen in public since he traveled to Havana, Cuba for surgery on December the 11th last year. It was his fourth operation in an 18-month period. He was first diagnosed with cancer in mid-2011.

(Source: CNTV.cn)