The Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Tuesday appeared on his
country's state television for the first time in three months.
The 80-year-old leader, who was shown standing and chatting with
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Havana, looked stronger than
previous images since he underwent an intestinal operation on July
27.
The video footage was taped on Monday during a two-hour private
meeting, according to the state television.
Castro temporarily handed over power to his younger brother Raul
Castro four days after the surgery in July.
On Jan. 16, the Spanish newspaper El Pais cited two doctors from
the Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid as saying that Castro was
in a "very grave" condition after three failed operations and
complications from an intestinal infection.
The report ignited a lot of speculation over Castro's
health.
Though the veteran Cuban leader has not made any public
appearances since the surgery, he appeared on several video
footages and delivered New Year's greetings to his countrymen on
Dec. 30.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)
