Heart attack killed a suffering Hugo Chavez

The general said he spent the last two years with Chavez,including his final moments,as Venezuela8217;s president of 14 years battled an unspecified cancer in the pelvic region.

Ornella said Chavez8217;s cancer was very advanced when death came but gave no details.

Ornella did not respond when asked if the cancer had spread to Chavez8217;s lungs.

The government said on the eve of Chavez8217;s death that he had suffered a severe new respiratory infection. It was the second respiratory infection reported by officials after Chavez underwent his fourth cancer surgery in Cuba on Dec. 11.

Venezuelan authorities have not said what kind of cancer Chavez had or specified exactly where tumors were removed.