• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 10 / 03 / 2010

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Sun Oct 3, 2010 2:21am GMT. CARACAS (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro may visit Venezuela, his friend and ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday, in what would be the 84-year-old Castro's first visit abroad in at least four years.

Castro began reappearing in public in July after a four-year seclusion due to a serious illness and intestinal surgery that forced him to hand power on the island to his brother Raul Castro.

He has travelled in Cuba and made public speeches wearing his trademark military dress, but he has not left the country since his 2006 illness, according to the Cuban government.

A trip to Venezuela would be greatly welcomed by Chavez, "Dare I say that it is probable that Fidel Castro will visit Venezuela again, it's probable," Chavez told a television audience, which broke into applause and pro-Castro chants.

"I have invited him to visit us as he is better than ever, better than ever. ... Long live Fidel! We await you, comrade, so you can give a speech here of five or six hours," Chavez said.

Before his illness, Castro was known for his marathon speeches including one of four hours and 29 minutes at the 1960 United Nations General Assembly.

Since reappearing in public, the leader of the Cuban revolution has preached that nuclear war is imminent if the United States, in alliance with Israel, tries to enforce international sanctions against Iran for its nuclear activities.

By Daniel Trotta

Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE69207220101003?pageNumber...