Venezuela deploys army, police after Chavez death: VP

CARACAS - Agence France-Presse

In this TV frame grab taken from the Venezuelan network Telesur, Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro announces the death of President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Maduro announced that Chavez died on Tuesday, ending 14 years of rule. Maduro said that Chavez died "after battling a tough illness for nearly two years." The death apparently sets up a presidential election to replace Chavez, whose illness prevented him from taking the oath of office for the term to

Venezuela deployed its army and police in the wake of today's announcement of President Hugo Chavez's death, as the nation entered a period of political uncertainty and national mourning.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said in a nationwide television broadcast that a special deployment was "at this very moment" being rolled out "to accompany and protect our people and guarantee the peace." 

Meanwhile Venezuela's military chiefs appeared live on state TV on Tuesday to pledge their loyalty to Maduro following the death of Chavez.