Chavez weeps seeing Bolivars remains

Hugo Chavez has opened the coffin of his idol Simon Bolivar to investigate his suspicions of foul play in the independence heros death nearly two centuries ago....

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Hugo Chavez has opened the coffin of his idol Simon Bolivar to investigate his suspicions of foul play in the independence heros death nearly two centuries ago.

Chavez announced the exhumation of Bolivars remains on Friday and displayed the intact skeleton briefly on national television,saying he wept when he saw the bones of the inspiration for his Bolivarian Revolution.

While historians have concluded that Bolivar died of tuberculosis in 1830,Chavez has another theory Bolivar was murdered.

State television showed footage of white-clad officials opening the coffin. Specialists will carry out DNA testing on the remains,which were well-preserved and include teeth in perfect shape,hair,remnants of a shirt and boots,Chavez said.

Those who opened the coffin wore surgical gloves,hair nets and gas masks. Chavez interrupted a speech on Friday to show footage of them rolling back a black cloth to reveal the skeleton while the national anthem played.

Viva Bolivar, Chavez said. Its not a skeleton. Its the Great Bolivar,who has returned.

Chavez opened Bolivars tomb unannounced,spreading the news on Twitter shortly after midnight Thursday: What impressive moments we have lived tonight! We have seen the remains of the Great Bolivar!

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Our father who is in the earth,the water and the air8230; You awake every hundred years when the people awaken, Chavez continued. I confess that we have cried,we have sworn allegiance.

The President often speaks under a portrait of The Liberator and quotes his words. Chavez has also renamed Venezuela the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Chavez has sometimes raised a sword that belonged to Bolivar at public events,and views his presidency as a modern extension of Bolivars struggle.

That glorious skeleton has to be Bolivar,because his flame can be felt. My God, Chavez said in another tweet. Bolivar lives8230; We are his flame!

Bolivars remains have been kept since 1876 at the National Pantheon in Caracas.

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Chavez said one key aim is glorifying Bolivar by removing his remains from a lead sarcophagus and moving them to a grander final resting place. The government also will build a new pantheon to house Bolivars remains.

According to traditional accounts,Bolivar spent his last days bedridden and died at 47 of tuberculosis in modern-day Colombia. However,Chavez has expressed doubts about the original autopsy and says he believes that he could have been assassinated by his enemies,possibly poisoned.