On the streets of Caracas, they sobbed openly. Anguish over the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez apparent on the faces of the thousands who gathered in the capital.
SOUNDBITE: Unidentified man saying:
"We love him. May you rest and may you see glory.
An emotional Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's Vice President made the official announcement
SOUNDBITE: Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro saying (Spanish):
"I was with his daughters, his brother, his family members when we received the hardest and the most tragic of news that we will ever transmit to the people. At 4:25 in the afternoon today, the 5th of March, Comandante President Hugo Chavez Frias died."
Seen here with his daughters in February, these are the last public pictures of the 58-year-old leader. Chavez had been battling cancer and returned to Venezuela two weeks ago after undergoing surgery in Cuba.
News of his death spread fast and dealt a blow to many Venezuelans.
