Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias was born on July 29, 1954, the second of six children; Adam, Argenis, Hannibal, Adelis and Narcissus. His parents Elena Frias, a rural teacher, and Hugo de los Reyes Chavez, also a teacher and former governor of Barinas, decided to give Hugo and his brother Adam to his grandmother Rosa Inés, who raised them from childhood through adolescence in natal Sabaneta, Barinas State.

Rosalynn and I extend our condolences to the family of Hugo Chávez Frías. We met Hugo Chávez when he was campaigning for president in 1998 and The Carter Center was invited to observe elections for the first time in Venezuela. We returned often, for the 2000 elections, and then to facilitate dialogue during the political conflict of 2002-2004.

The Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his "deep sadness" over the death of Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, and "in this sad day" expressed "solidarity" with Venezuela.

"It was with great sadness that I received the news of the death of President Hugo Chavez," Lula said through a statement released by his eight-line press office.

Venezuela's Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Díaz, called for calm and assured that the Attorney General will address the circumstances that may arise after the death of President Chavez. "The call is to be quiet.