Hugo Chávez: a life in pictures

1992: Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chávez, centre, is escorted by military intelligence officers after being arrested for trying to overthrow Venezuela's government Photograph: Andres Leighton/AP

1992: Hugo Chávez, on the left, with fellow jailed revolutionaries after the failed coup Photograph: Reuters/CORBIS

1994: Hugo Chávez talks to reporters after his release from prison, which came after charges of leading the first of two attempted coups were dropped Photograph: Bertrand Parres/AFP/Getty Images

1997: Chávez waves to the crowd in Caracas after announcing his candidacy for the presidency Photograph: Jose Caruci/AP

1999: Chávez throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a New York Mets game at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York Photograph: Matt Campbell/AFP/Getty Images

1999: Chávez is accompanied by his wife, Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez, as he waves to supporters after being sworn in as president. The couple divorced in 2004 Photograph: Bertrand Parres/AFP/Getty Images

2001: Chávez inspects national air force manoeuvres in Catilletes, near the border with Colombia Photograph: Egilda Gomez /AFP/Getty Images

2001: Chávez confers with the then Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, at a summit of the Association of Caribbean States Photograph: Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images

2002: Chávez returns to Miraflores presidential palace after spending 48 hours in military custody in Caracas during a failed coup attempt Photograph: Pedro Ruiz/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

2004: Chávez greets his supporters at a Caracas rally against US intervention in Venezuelan politics Photograph: Egilda Gomez/AP

2005: Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro have fun with a medallion, a gift from students at the Latin American School of Medical Science in Havana. The longtime friends visited each other in hospital during their illnesses Photograph: Alejandro Ernesto/EPA

2006: Bolivian president Evo Morales and Hugo Chávez appear on the balcony of the presidential palace in La Paz the day after Morales was sworn in Photograph: Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images

2006: Chávez visits Fidel Castro in hospital during the then Cuban leader's recovery from surgery. Castro later returned the favour
Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

January 2007: Chávez and his counterparts from Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and Bolivia, Evo Morales, during an encounter in Zumbahua, Ecuador Photograph: Miraflores / Handout/EPA

2009: Chávez rides a horse during his weekly broadcast, Alo Presidente
Photograph: Reuters

2011: Chávez is flanked by his daughters, Rosa Virginia and Gabriela, after announcing his return to Cuba to begin a new phase of cancer treatment Photograph: Ariana Cubillos/AP

August 2011: Chávez arrives back from Cuba at Simon Bolívar national airport in Maiquetia outside Caracas Photograph: Handout/Reuters

2011: Chávez did not give details of his cancer. Several courses of treatment failed to cure him Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

2012: Chávez greets his supporters after receiving news of his re-election in Caracas. After almost 14 years in power, he had apparently beaten cancer and the most formidable opponent of his presidency, Henrique Capriles Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

2012: Chávez speaks at a press conference after his re-election in front of a portrait of Simón Bolívar. He pledged to become a better president and to work with the opposition Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

15 February 2013: Chávez poses for a photo with his daughters, Maria Gabriela, left, and Rosa Virginia in Havana, Cuba Photograph: AP