Caracas - Former Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, turned a video sent to the closure of the meeting in Caracas, the Sao Paulo Forum - a gathering of left-wing parties of Latin American countries - into a manifesto supporting the reelection of Hugo Chavez, who is seeking his fourth term as president in October this year.

In the video, Lula tells Chavez that "his victory is our victory."

Lula, who is recovering from a cancer of the larynx, regretted in the video his absence from the international meeting.

”I would like to be there to give a hug to my friend, Hugo Chavez. Under the leadership of Chavez, the Venezuelan people have had extraordinary achievements,” he said.

The people’s classes were never treated with such respect, affection and dignity. These achievements need to be preserved and consolidated. Chavez, count on me, count on us in the Labour Party, count on the solidarity and support from each leftwing militant, from each democrat and each Latin American. Your victory will be our victory.”

Chavez, who made the event a rare public appearance, since he has been under a cancer treatment, the severity of which is the subject of speculations, responded to the video with a "Viva Lula!" and praised the former president, a "great companion, friend of this country and of our souls."

”I'm sure every day is closer to the time when we meet again and have a hug that will give the size of this world and beyond it,” the Venezuelan president said.

Chavez also reiterated that he will win the elections by "knockout" despite the polls that indicate a close race with opponent Henrique Capriles.