CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez today denied rumors of a setback in his health, saying he is at work and expects to finish with cancer treatments soon.

Chavez called state television and urged Venezuelans to "pay no attention to rumors”. He appeared to be referring to a report in El Nuevo Herald of Miami that he had been hospitalised and that his condition might be deteriorating.

"I'm fine," Chavez said. "I'm here in my place of work and working."

Chavez said he is taking steroids and other medicines as he recovers from chemotherapy treatments for cancer. He said he is working at "half throttle" while undergoing physical and medical therapy.

He finished a fourth round of chemotherapy in Cuba last week and says he is done with those treatments.

"I'm going to completely get out of this soon," Chavez said.

Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba in June to remove a tumour from his pelvic region.

He has not specified where the tumour was located. He has said previously that tests have shown no signs of a recurrence.

The president said his body has coped well with chemotherapy and assured Venezuelans he would keep them informed.

"I would be the first ... to communicate any difficulty in the process. None beyond the normal has come up," Chavez said.

Critics of Chavez have accused him of giving slow, incomplete reports on his illness that have fed rumours.

Chavez acknowledged that he had been treated for cancer on June 30. He said later the surgery to remove the tumor was performed on June 20.

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