Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a message to his Venezuelan counterpart Diosdado Cabello extended his condolences to the country's people, national assembly and government over the death of President Hugo Chavez, and said Chavez opened a new chapter in the political life of Latin America.

"He (Chavez) opened a new chapter in the political life of the Latin American nations with his valuable efforts, and the path of independence-seeking and campaign against the bullying of the world powers has now turned into a new and dynamic discourse among Latino nations …," Larijani said in his message on Wednesday.

The Iranian parliament speaker in his message also condoled with Venezuelan Vice-President and Caretaker of the Government Nicolas Maduro on the sad occasion.

President Chavez died in a hospital in the capital city of Caracas on Tuesday.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Iranian government announced today as a day of national mourning to honor late President Chavez.

Iranian officials also plan to hold a commemoration for the late Venezuelan president here in Tehran. The Iranian government is also due to send a high-ranking Iranian delegation to Venezuela to attend Chavez's funeral procession on Friday.

President Ahmadinejad in a message to Venezuelan officials today extended his condolences to the country's people and government over the death of President Hugo Chavez, and said Chavez will be alive as long as justice, love and freedom continue to exist.

"As long as justice, love and freedom are alive, Hugo Chavez will be alive as well. As long as faith, purity and humanity are alive, he will be alive too. As long as nations are alive and strive for the materialization of independence, kindness and justice, he will be alive too," Ahmadinejad said in his message.

President Ahmadinejad in his message also condoled with Venezuelan Vice-President and Caretaker of the Government Nicolas Maduro on the sad occasion.

The Iranian president expressed sympathy with Maduro, and also condoled with the Venezuelan nation and government on Chavez's death.
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