Former Ambassador of Panama claims Hugo Chavez is dead

Former Ambassador of Panama to the Organization of American States, Guillermo Koches, claims that Hugo Chavez was disconnected from the life-support system four days ago. Koches made the statement on Wednesday in an interview with a Colombian television channel.

According to Koches, he has confidential information saying that the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez was disconnected from the life support system two months ago. Moreover, the official added, Chavez's brain died four months ago. Last week, Chavez was delivered from Havana to Caracas, because the authorities did not want to disconnect him from the system in Cuba, the politician said.

In this regard, Koches predicts that the announcement of new presidential elections in Venezuela may follow very soon.

"If I lie, let the Government of Venezuela simply show Chavez to everyone," Koches said.

Venezuelan authorities have not released any comments yet.

Koches was dismissed from the post of the Ambassador of Panama to the OAS, after he criticized the organization for its compliance with the decision of the Venezuelan authorities to postpone the effective date of Chavez's entrance upon his duties.