Hugh Chavez foe condemns court decision on Chavez oath

Photo - Pedestrians walk past a mural of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Venezuela's congress has voted to postpone the inauguration of President Hugo Chavez, which was scheduled for Thursday, to let him recover from cancer surgery in Cuba. Critics say that violates the country's constitution. On Wednesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court backed the congress ruling Chavez's inauguration can be postponed. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) — Pedestrians walk past a mural of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Venezuela's congress has voted to postpone the inauguration of President Hugo Chavez, which was scheduled for Thursday, to let him recover from cancer surgery in Cuba. Critics say that violates the country's constitution. On Wednesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court backed the congress ruling Chavez's inauguration can be postponed. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles is condemning the Supreme Court's endorsement of a delay in President Hugo Chavez's inauguration.

The Supreme Court sided with Venezuela's government and ruling party earlier Wednesday in the heated dispute with the opposition while the ailing leader struggles with complications a month after cancer surgery in Cuba.

Capriles says that "institutions should not respond to the interests of a government."

Supreme Court President Luisa Estella announced that it's legal for lawmakers to delay Chavez's swearing-in for a new term, which had been scheduled for Thursday.

Pro-Chavez lawmakers voted Tuesday to delay the ceremony, allowing Chavez to take the oath of office at a later date before the Supreme Court.