CARACAS - Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday the cancer afflicting Hugo Chavez was an "attack" by enemies among a barrage of conspiracies against him throughout his 14-year rule.

Maduro, in a live address to the nation, added that Venezuela was preparing "special measures" to counter an upsurge in plotting against the government during Chavez's battle against cancer.

A US diplomat had been expelled for trying to stir up a military plot against Chavez, he added.