Except that in February, he announced his intention to end his life.

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Chavez has neither been seen nor heard from, except for "proof-of-life" photos released in mid-February, since submitting to a fourth round of surgery in Cuba on Dec. 11 for an unspecified cancer in the pelvic area.

NPR: Venezuela: Chavez Hit By New, Severe Infection

At the moment, the government is vague about when the assessment will be undertaken, except that it will be within two years of the election, as Mr Blair promised in February to the fury, apparently, of Mr Brown.

ECONOMIST: Britain and the euro