DUSHANBE, March 7, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to acting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the death of President Hugo Chavez, the Tajik president’s official website reports.

Rahmon said he was saddened by the death of Chavez and offered his condolences to the family of the president, the government and the people of Venezuela.

“Comandante President Hugo Chavez was one of the most outstanding and distinguished politicians of international level in recent years.  He had done a big work to protect and strengthen independence of Venezuela and ensure national development and social progress,” the message said.

Hugo Chavez died of cancer Tuesday at the age of 58 after 14 years in power.  He was re-elected to a third six-year term last October, but could not be sworn in as scheduled on January 10 due to his serious health problems.  After seeking medical treatment for 70 days in Cuba, he returned home on February 18.  Since then, he had stayed in the Caracas military hospital.

Chavez was born on July 28, 1954, in Venezuela''s Barinas state, and graduated from the country''s military academy in 1975 with a master''s degree in military sciences.  He also studied politics at Simon Bolivar University from 1989 to 1990.