video transcript

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL It's official - President Hugo Chavez is to miss his own in inauguration. A letter from the vice president was read out in the National Assembly confirming the postponement, as the ailing leader recovers from cancer surgery in Cuba. Chavez's supporters cheered their leader, but opposition politicians are less than impressed. They say the government is violating the constitution by ignoring the inauguration date. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitution, which does not specify what happens if a president is not sworn-in on January 10th. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles urges the courts to take action. SOUNDBITE: VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING (Spanish): "A wrong decision by the Supreme Court, instead of bringing peace or calm, could fuel anarchy. That's why I say that this is a time in which the institutional, patriotic and democratic spirit that the Venezuelans have must prevail." Chavez's allies hope to seek another date for the inauguration, while no time frame has been given for the president's recovery.