Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has a ordered a 3,000-odd strong military force, called the National Command of the People's Guard, onto the country's streets with the stated aim of helping the police curb widespread crime in the country.<br /><br />As Al Jazeera's Dima Khatib reports from Caracas, that this is the first time that Chavez has addressed crime and social issues in this way.<br /><br />Last-month Chavez announced that he was cancer-free after having had a tumour removed and undergoing four rounds of chemotherapy,<br /><br />Friday's move came a day after Chavez announced that he wanted to stay in power for another two decades, until 2031.<br />He has also been promoting new social programmes to help the poor, working families and pensioners that are to take effect before the October 7, 2012, presidential elections.<br /><br />[Photo: Reuters]
