• Submitted by: admin
• Politics and Government
• 04 / 15 / 2007

The Cuban president Fidel Castro at his 80 years old, is "almost totally recovered" from intestinal surgery last year, his ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said.

Mr. Chavez told journalists in Caracas that the Cuban president had resumed a good part of his duties. Mr. Castro has not been seen in public since July 2006, when he handed power to his brother Raul.

Castros continued absence from politics has fuelled speculation about the seriousness of his condition.

Mr. Castro's health is treated as a state secret in Cuba, but Mr. Chavez has offered a number of updates on his ally in recent months.

"Almost totally recovered is the very reliable information that I keep receiving," Mr. Chavez told a news conference in the Venezuelan capital.

"The information that keeps emerging, his notes, his voice on the telephone, show a marked improvement (in his health)," he said.

"He has taken back a good part of government functions, but, of course, not formally."

In recent weeks, Mr. Castro has written two newspaper articles criticising US policy on biofuels.

Analysts say these articles - in the Communist Party's official newspaper Granma - could be a sign of a return to active politics. Officials in Cuba insist it is only a matter of time before Mr. Castro resumes office.

Mr. Castro in late February himself gave a live broadcast on Mr. Chavez' daily radio programme, telling listeners that he was "gaining ground".

Source: SomaliNet