Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that he was optimistic about his recovery and expected to go home soon.

"We're optimistic and we know we'll get out of this," Chavez said in a phone call to the Cuban state television, referring to his recovery after receiving two operations.

Chavez also said he had phone calls with leaders of Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua. Latin American leaders have sent him messages of solidarity.

Chavez confirmed he was in Cuba for treatment of cancerous cells detected after a tumor-removal operation, which followed a June 10 operation for a pelvic abscess.

It remained unclear which kind of cancer was involved in the cells and how long he would remain in Cuba. There has been speculation in Venezuela about the health of Chavez over the past weeks.