Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has defied speculation about his health with a four-hour-long televised appearance, his longest since being diagnosed with recurring cancer in March.

The government has disclosed few details about Mr Chavez’s health, leading to intense speculation over the political future of Latin America’s most prominent leftist leader, who is seeking re-election to a third consecutive six-year term.

But on Tuesday the 57-year-old sought to reassure supporters by chairing a four-hour televised Cabinet meeting just weeks after returning from close ally Cuba, where he has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

As he has shuttled back and forth to Havana in recent months, Mr Chavez has mainly communicated via Twitter and televised phone calls, leading to charges from the opposition that he is governing the country by remote control.

Mr Chavez had chaired a shorter Cabinet meeting last week after his return.

On Tuesday, Mr Chavez confirmed that Venezuelan forces were operating in “all areas” where Bogota has said Colombian leftist guerrillas may be operating, but did not provide further details.

Last week Venezuela deployed some 3,000 reinforcements to areas along the border with Colombia – part of a security cooperation that has been stepped up by the two countries – and arrested a group of Colombian rebels.

Mr Chavez also allocated some $600 million for a petrochemical project during the Cabinet meeting and examined other infrastructure plans.

The flamboyant Venezuelan leader has yet to disclose what kind of cancer he suffers from but has vowed to route opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in the October 7 election.