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Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video

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  • Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video

    HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro looked alert and healthier in a video taped Friday, the first images released of the ailing 81-year-old leader in more than three months. In the images aired unexpectedly on state television Friday evening, Castro wore a red, blue and white jumpsuit with "F. Castro" in small block letters. The Cuban leader spoke slowly and softly and didn't always look the interviewer in the eye, but appeared to be thinking clearly.
    Officials broke into regularly scheduled programming only minutes earlier to announce that an hour-long "conversation" with Castro would be shown.

    Castro mentioned the price of oil and the value of the Euro against the dollar, evidence that the video was recorded Friday, as Cuban officials said. At times, it was hard to follow his train of thought as he spoke about a wandering essay he published in state media Wednesday.

    At first, Castro often trailed off mid-sentence, and needed some prompting. But he appeared to get stronger and more comfortable as time passed. His eyes and facial expression were clear.

    Castro has not been since in public since July 31, 2006, when he announced that emergency intestinal surgery was forcing him to step down in favor of a provisional government headed by his younger brother Raul.

    For months, official photographs and videos showed Castro's recovery, but no new images had surfaced since he appeared in an interview on Cuban television June 5.

    Vice President Carlos Lage told reporters earlier Friday that the essays Castro has signed every few days since late March are evidence that his health is strong.

    "Fidel continues to recuperate. It's a productive recuperation as we can see in the press," said Lage, apparently referring to the publication in state newspapers of Castro's "Reflections of the Commander in Chief."

    Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque added that "Fidel is recovering with discipline and I think that he's having a productive work period—reading, studying, writing and keeping up with and participating in the country's principal decisions."

    As he recovers in an undisclosed location, Castro's condition and exact ailment are state secrets, though he wrote in one of his essays that he had undergone multiple surgeries, at least one of which went poorly.

    Castro also suggested he can't be bothered to trim his beard or comb his hair—possibly explaining why so few official images have been released.

    Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video

  • #2
    Cuba's Castro nearly died but is OK now: Chavez

    MANAUS, Brazil (Reuters) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro nearly died and underwent several blood transfusions in which almost all his blood was exchanged, but he is now doing well, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday.

    It was not clear if Chavez was talking about a recent relapse in the health of Castro, 81, or if he was recounting complications that he suffered after undergoing emergency surgery more than a year ago due to an intestinal problem.

    "Fidel is well, clearly he has not finished his recovery. He has a little problem there but he can live like this another 100 years," Chavez told reporters during a visit to Brazil's Amazon city of Manaus.

    "What problem does he have? Well, one operation, two operations, three operations, 81-years-old, he almost died. They transfused nearly all Fidel's blood, he is still alive because he's Fidel. They gave him I don't know how many transfusions," said Chavez, a close friend and ally of the veteran communist.

    Castro relinquished power to his brother Raul on July 31, 2006 after he fell ill and has not appeared in public since then.

    Video footage of meetings with Chavez and other foreign leaders appeared to show a steady improvement in his health early this year but no footage or pictures have been released since early June, fueling speculation that his condition may have worsened.

    Senior Cuban officials said on Thursday that the Cuban leader, who seized power in Cuba's 1959 revolution, continues to recover from his health crisis, but they gave no indication he would return to office.

    Vice President Carlos Lage said Castro's recovery was evident from his prolific output of newspaper columns and essays on international issues and political history.

    "Fidel is recovering," Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque told reporters in Havana. "It has been a fertile period of work, reading, studying and writing, while keeping in touch with and being involved in the country's main decisions, on which he is consulted," he said.

    Castro's illness remains a closely guarded state secret.

    Chavez, who visited Castro in June for six hours, said he last spoke with his political mentor two or three weeks ago and that Venezuela's energy minister spoke with Castro last week.

    Chavez was in Manaus for a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.

    Cuba's Castro nearly died but is OK now: Chavez | International | Reuters

    Comment


    • #3
      LOL.

      Anybody ever see "Kagemusha " by Akira Kurosawa?

      Comment

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