Venezuelans honor late leader Chavez

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CARACAS, Nov. 5 -- Venezuelans commemorated the death of their late leader Hugo Chavez on Tuesday, making Dec. 8 as the "Day of Loyalty and Love to Supreme Commander Hugo Chavez and the Homeland."

Chavez's successor, Nicolas Maduro, said via Twitter that "eight months after you planted the seeds commandant, your loyal children are here to protect the people, who are defending your legacy."

In a message posted on the social networking site Instagram, Chavez's daughter Maria Gabriela Chavez said "eight months have passed since my hands stopped being able to feel the warmth of yours ... (hands) that did not falter in taking up arms when it was needed to defend the country."

Dec. 8 was the day Chavez made his last public appearance and speech, in which he announced that he had to undergo a cancer surgery for the fourth time and wanted Maduro to succeed him.

Meanwhile, Dec. 8 is also the date of upcoming local elections, in which 335 mayors will be elected.

Chavez, who had been Venezuela's president since February 1999, died on March 5 at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer, which was first detected in his pelvis.

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