Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, who is in Cuba following emergency surgery, is in 'critical' but stable condition, Miami's El Nuevo Herald reported.
Mr Chavez's government has said he was operated on for a pelvic abscess on 10 June and is recovering well.
Senior allies have rubbished reports he is sicker than the government has admitted, telling opponents to 'stop dreaming' of his death.
The president has not been seen in public since the operation and his long absence has prompted widespread speculation he may be seriously ill, possibly being treated for prostate cancer.
The president's brother told Venezuelan state media that Mr Chavez could return to Caracas in about two weeks.
Information Minister Andres Izarra urged his Twitter followers to not repeat rumours. Mr Chavez 'is recovering well from his operation,' Mr Izarra said.
His government insists Mf Chavez is fine but says he won't return to Venezuela until he is ready. And it has accused his opponents of 'rubbing their hands together' in glee.
Vice President Elias Jaua said Mr Chavez would return soon.
Mr Chavez himself fired off a brief Twitter message saying that his youngest daughter and three grandchildren arrived in Cuba to visit him.
He arrived in Cuba on 8 June on the final leg of a trip that also included Brazil and Ecuador and was rushed into emergency surgery after suffering sharp pain diagnosed as a pelvic abscess that required immediate surgery.
