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Castro makes rare TV appearance Castro makes rare TV appearance
(20 minutes later)
Fidel Castro has appeared in a video broadcast on state television, in the first images of the ailing former Cuban leader for five months. Cuban state television has broadcast the first video in five months of the country's former leader, Fidel Castro.
He is seen chatting in a garden to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The pictures of Mr Castro are the first since he relinquished power to Raul in February. He has not been seen in public since falling ill in July 2006.
Mr Castro is said to look vigorous and animated, though he appears thinner and his hair and beard are whiter. The silent footage shows Mr Castro at a meeting in Havana on Monday with his younger brother, President Raul Castro, and Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez.
The pictures are his first since he handed power to his brother Raul in February. He has not been seen in public since falling ill in July 2006. Mr Chavez said he had discussed issues such as the food and energy crises.
"Fidel is sitting there, alive and well, thinking, writing and dictating important strategies for Cuba and our Latin America," Mr Chavez told reporters on Monday.
Earlier, state media said the former leader had held "animated and affectionate" talks with his staunchest ally for three hours.
Mr Castro appears in the video in a Cuban national team track suit and is shown sitting, as well as on his feet. He appears thinner, and his hair and beard are whiter.
The ailing revolutionary was last seen in a video when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Cuba on 16 January.