Venezuela's showman president Hugo Chávez made a dramatic return home yesterday, addressing thousands of ecstatic supporters in Caracas with the battle-cry: "The return has begun". 
 
 Hordes of Chávez supporters had flocked onto the streets outside the city's Miraflores Palace to welcome back their leader, following his surprise return from Cuba in the early hours of Monday. 
 
 At just after 5.35pm local time a sea of red-clad supporters erupted in cheers and applause as Chávez stepped out onto the Palace's "balcón del pueblo" or "people's balcony" wearing a red beret and green army uniform. 
 
 Hoisting his country's red, blue and yellow flag into the air, Chávez launched into a rendition of the Venezuelan national anthem before shouting: "Viva Venezuela! Viva the Bolivarian Revolution! Viva the Venezuelan People… Viva life! Viva Chávez!" 
 
 "We will win this battle for life, for the fatherland and for the revolution," Chávez told thousands of flag-waving supporters, speaking just days after admitting he was being treated for cancer in Cuba. 
 
 "We will overcome all of these difficulties," he added from the iconic veranda, the setting for numerous key addresses since he came to power in 1999. 
 
 Chávez's sudden return, nearly one month after he left the country, came on the eve of Venezuela's independence celebrations that kick off on Tuesday. 
 
 Within hours of Chávez setting foot on Venezuelan soil, allies from his United Socialist Party (PSUV) were appearing on television urging supporters to gather outside the city's Miraflores Palace. 
 
 "We have so much to celebrate," said Blanca Eekhout, the vice-president of Venezuela's National Assembly. "Let's celebrate independence and the happiness of having our president back." Chávez was now "recovering and preparing for the battles ahead," she added. 
 
 Throughout Monday, state-controlled television churned out infomercials for the afternoon address, accompanied by a chirpy pop-rock soundtrack and the catch-line "pa'lante comandante" – "onwards, commander". 
 
 "Welcome back president," bellowed the commercial's voiceover. "The whole of Venezuela receives you with happiness." 
 
 Across town the refrain was repeated, as faithful Chavistas celebrated their president's "resurrection". 
 
 "I feel great joy because Chávez is back in his country," said Iris Teran, a 27-year-old secretary who was among the crowds. "We've come to show him our revolutionary support. We have all prayed so that he can continue in his Bolivarian revolution". 
 
 Nelson Leon, a 68-year-old headmaster, added his voice to the chorus. "My wife woke me up to tell me he was back, but I thought she was lying. I feel the same joy as all my compatriots to see our president back and in good health." 
 
 Rafael Leonides, 51, said he had prayed for Chávez's return. "We were feeling orphaned." 
 
 Political analysts had harboured suspicions that Chávez might attempt a high-profile homecoming to coincide with Venezuela's independence celebrations on Tuesday – although those chances appeared to have faded last Thursday following Chávez's admission he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. 
 
 Javier Corrales, a Venezuela expert from Amherst College in Massachusetts, described Monday's dramatic, pre-dawn return as "typical Chávez." 
 
 "He is a micro-manager par excellence, convinced of his own indispensability. Thus a premature return is less surprising from Chávez than a prolonged absence," said Corrales. 
 
 "Governance in Venezuela might not necessarily improve with an ailing president back in residence, but at least the internal confusion and posturing within his ruling party will ease, for now," he added. 
 
 With a 2012 presidential election looming on the horizon and domestic headaches growing, Chávez needs to recover, and fast. 
 
 Corrales said Chávez faced "a tough scenario" back home, with an ongoing energy crisis and economic woes presenting a treacherous run-up to the election. 
 
 "Until his health improves, Chávez's best hope to prevail in the forthcoming elections may be to win enough sympathy votes," Corrales said. 

 Chavez health: Venezuelan president vows to beat cancer 
 
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 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has addressed thousands of supporters in the capital, Caracas, following his return from medical treatment in Cuba. 
 
 They cheered as he waved the Venezuelan flag from his palace's balcony and said he would win his health battle. 
 
 Mr Chavez, 56, had been in Cuba since 8 June, where he underwent an operation to remove a cancerous tumour. 
 
 He said however he would not be able to take part in national independence celebrations on Tuesday. 
 
 He said he would not attend the parade but would follow it from the presidential palace. 
 
 Dressed in his trademark green military fatigues and red beret, Mr Chavez initially led the exultant crowd in a robust rendition of Venezuela's national anthem, Gloria al Bravo Pueblo (Glory to the Brave People). 
 
 "The return has begun," he said, thanking the people for their support. "This is the best medicine for whatever illness." 
 
 Speculation calmed 
 
 Standing unaided, Mr Chavez spoke without notes for around 30 minutes. 
 
 Continue reading the main story At the scene It has been a triumphant return for the president, who had looked frightened and apologetic in his message to the nation broadcast last week in which he informed Venezuelans that he had been treated for cancer. It seemed that the government had deliberately wanted to surprise the country with his return. Returning in time for the bicentennial celebrations is an important achievement for a president who likes to compare his socialist revolution with the independence struggle of his hero Simon Bolivar 200 years ago. That Mr Chavez will be forced to watch proceedings indoors is an indication that he is still battling ill health. How much he will be able to resume his usual duties in the coming weeks is a question many want answered. 
 
 At one point he held up a crucifix, saying: "Christ is with us!" 
 
 The thousands-strong crowd, bedecked in the red of his ruling Socialist party, chanted back: "Oh, no! Chavez won't go!" 
 
 Earlier, Mr Chavez said he had spent "very difficult days" in Cuba but that his recovery was going well. 
 
 Mr Chavez, who has led Venezuela for 12 years and survived a coup attempt in 2002, told state TV he was under very strict medical supervision "with medication, rest, meals controlled". 
 
 There had been widespread speculation about Mr Chavez's health after he left Venezuela more than three weeks ago for what officials said was an operation on a pelvic abscess. 
 
 Last week he revealed he had also had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour. He said he was determined to win his health battle and was on the road to recovery. 
 
 Political observers speculated that he could be gone for months, and some questioned whether he could realistically return to office. 
 
 Although his return has calmed much speculation, correspondents say it is still unclear how serious Mr Chavez's condition is or if he will need continued treatment that will leave him weak. 
 
 Mr Chavez's extended stay in Cuba led to the postponement of a regional summit scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
– Hugo Chavez has made a triumphant return to Venezuela after nearly a month in Cuba being treated for cancer. The leader, who is recovering after having a cancerous tumor removed, addressed thousands of cheering supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace, reports the BBC. "The return has begun," he said, calling the people's support "the best medicine for illness." The dramatic return is "typical Chavez," a Venezuela expert tells the Guardian. "Governance in Venezuela might not necessarily improve with an ailing president back in residence, but at least the internal confusion and posturing within his ruling party will ease." Venezuela marks 200 years of independence today but Chavez says he won't be able to take part in the celebrations.