Did Hugo Chavez die last month? The conspiracy theories on how, when and where Venezuelan president passed away

The whole of Venezuela may currently be in mourning over their late president, but within hours of Hugo Chavez's death, conspiracy theories were being offered on the real story behind his passing.

In the wake of Commander Chavez's death, questions marks have been raised about where he passed away, how long he has actually been dead, and whether 'foul play' from Venezuela's foes contributed.

Were Venezuela's 'foes' involved in 'foul play' before Chavez's death?

Chavez's health has been shrouded in uncertainty for weeks, and he had been battling cancer which was first officially diagnosed in 2011.

He underwent operations after the disease was detected in his pelvic area in mid-2011, but Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro said he had 'no doubt' the cancer was induced by 'foul play' from the country's enemies.

Blaming 'imperialist' enemies led by America, Mr Maduro said: "We have no doubt that commander Chavez was attacked with this illness.

"The old enemies of our fatherland looked for a way to harm his health."

The death of Chavez - well-known for his anti-American stance - was announced hours after two U.S. Embassy officials were expelled for allegedly meeting with military officers and planning to destabilise Venezuela.

Related: Hugo Chavez: A life in pictures

Mr Maduro said the two diplomats were thrown out of Venezuela for spying on the country's military.

Mr Maduro also claimed the U.S. was 'implicated in a conspiratorial plan' to remove Chavez from power by infecting him with the illness, adding that scientific evidence would soon emerge to support this claim.

Did Chavez die in Cuba or Venezuela?

Not only is the cause of Chavez's death disputed, there is even speculation as to where he finally passed away.

Some claim Maduro's outburst was all part of a plan to distract the media and 'cover-up' the fact that Chavez actually died in Cuba.

Spanish newspaper ABC claimed the 58-year-old had to return to Cuba for emergency treatment on Friday after his health deteriorated.

Unnamed sources close to the president told the paper Chavez was secretly moved back to Cuba and died there this morning.

The official line was the Chavez had remained in a military hospital in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, but it was noted that no government ministers were ever spotted attending his bedside.

Related: Hugo Chavez: A master of the spotlight

ABC goes on to claim that Chavez died at 7am Cuban time when his family made the agonising decision to stop efforts to keep him alive.

This links to further sensational claims about when exactly Chavez passed away in the first place.

Has Chavez been dead since last month?

Last week, Guillermo Cochez, a Panamanian diplomat, gave interviews saying that Chavez had died, telling a Spanish newspaper on February 27 that Chavez's life support had been switched off four days previously on the request of his daughters.

All of these claims support various theories that Venezuela has been covering up the extent of its late leader's illness.

The Venezuelan government has frequently deflected claims of a cover-up, while the U.S. described accusations that it was involved in the death as 'absurd'.

It is not the first time a high-profile international politician's death has been the subject of controversy and speculation.

Last year the body of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was exhumed amid claims his death in 2004 was caused by poisoning.