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• CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is heading back to Cuba on Sunday for more surgery for cancer, announcing on television that the illness has returned after two previous operations, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
• Chavez acknowledged the seriousness of his situation in an address Saturday night, saying for the first time that if he suffers complications Vice President Nicolas Maduro should take his place as Venezuela's leader and continue his socialist movement.
• "There are risks. Who can deny it?" Chavez said, seated at the presidential palace beside Maduro and other aides.
• "In any circumstance, we should guarantee the advance of the Bolivarian Revolution," Chavez said.
• Outside medical experts said that based on Chavez's account of his condition, he is facing a very difficult fight against an aggressive type of cancer.
• ___

• BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- Romanians braved snow and heavy rain on Sunday to vote in a parliamentary election that the center-left government is expected to win. But the outcome could worsen a longstanding dispute between this nation's top two officials.
• President Traian Basescu must nominate the prime minister, and he has indicated he may not appoint current Premier Victor Ponta, even if his coalition wins a majority in this impoverished Balkan nation. The two have been embroiled in a bitter personal feud since Ponta tried and failed to impeach the center-right Basescu in July.
• If Basescu refuses to appoint Ponta, it would cause a political standoff. Basescu could nominate someone else, but his choice would have to be approved by Parliament. If his candidate fails in two rounds of voting, Parliament could be dissolved.
• Sunday's turnout could be affected by bad weather.
• Heavy rain was falling in Bucharest as the polls opened and snow in other areas

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