Above: Havana

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Cuba’s government said it would hold a national day of mourning on Friday following the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The national day will come after a nearly two-day official mourning period that began Wednesday mourning.

In a statement, Cuba’s government said it received the news of Chavez’ death with “a deep and excruciating pain.”

“In this time of deep sadness, we share the most intimate feelings of solidarity with the fraternal Venezuelan people who accompany you in all circumstances,” the government said.

Chavez had spent months in Cuba for cancer treatment before returning to Venezuela last month.