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Castro makes rare TV appearance | Castro makes rare TV appearance |
(30 minutes later) | |
Cuban state television has broadcast the first video in five months of the country's former leader, Fidel Castro. | Cuban state television has broadcast the first video in five months of the country's former leader, Fidel Castro. |
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. | 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. |
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 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. |
Mr Chavez said he had discussed issues such as the food and energy crises. | 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. | "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 friendly" talks with his staunchest ally which lasted for three hours. | |
In the video, Mr Castro is wearing a Cuban national team track suit and is shown sitting, as well as on his feet. | |
The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says the 81-year-old appears thinner, and his hair and beard are sparser and whiter. | |
No details about his state of health were mentioned by state media. | |
The ailing revolutionary was last seen in a video when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Cuba on 16 January. | The ailing revolutionary was last seen in a video when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Cuba on 16 January. |
Our correspondent says Mr Castro's absence from the public eye has fed rumours that his health was failing, especially after a gap of two weeks in early May without any of his regular newspaper editorials. |