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Lula says Castro in good health
Source: Agencies |
February 26, 2010, Friday
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WEARING his now-trademark track suit, Fidel Castro smiles happily and appears to vigorously embrace his longtime friend, the president of Brazil.
The image, one of numerous photographs released on Wednesday, shows the 83-year-old former Cuban leader looking healthier and stronger than at many points since he took ill with an undisclosed ailment 3 1/2 years ago.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who met Castro behind closed doors on Wednesday, described him as being "exceptionally well," Brazil's private Agencia Estado news agency reported, citing unidentified Lula aides.
Lula spent more than an hour discussing various topics with Castro, who ceded power to his younger brother Raul - first temporarily, then permanently - after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006.
The meeting was closed to international news media based in Havana, but information about it was carried by Agencia Estado and Cuban state media.
Recent photographs released by Cuba's government have also shown a healthier-looking Fidel Castro.
Wednesday's images show a beaming Castro chatting with Silva and mugging for the camera with the Brazilian president's communications minister while Lula himself takes a photo.
The gray-bearded revolutionary was thought to be in far graver health - in fact, rumors of his imminent death were frequent - the last time Lula came to see him in January 2008. This time, Lula felt Castro looked "much different" and improved, Agencia Estado reported.
Cuba's state television led its evening newscast with a report on the meeting, though it didn't broadcast any images of Castro until the 30-minute show's closing, when it displayed several still photographs of the former leader.
Also visiting Cuba was socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, another close friend and confidant of Castro.
The image, one of numerous photographs released on Wednesday, shows the 83-year-old former Cuban leader looking healthier and stronger than at many points since he took ill with an undisclosed ailment 3 1/2 years ago.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who met Castro behind closed doors on Wednesday, described him as being "exceptionally well," Brazil's private Agencia Estado news agency reported, citing unidentified Lula aides.
Lula spent more than an hour discussing various topics with Castro, who ceded power to his younger brother Raul - first temporarily, then permanently - after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006.
The meeting was closed to international news media based in Havana, but information about it was carried by Agencia Estado and Cuban state media.
Recent photographs released by Cuba's government have also shown a healthier-looking Fidel Castro.
Wednesday's images show a beaming Castro chatting with Silva and mugging for the camera with the Brazilian president's communications minister while Lula himself takes a photo.
The gray-bearded revolutionary was thought to be in far graver health - in fact, rumors of his imminent death were frequent - the last time Lula came to see him in January 2008. This time, Lula felt Castro looked "much different" and improved, Agencia Estado reported.
Cuba's state television led its evening newscast with a report on the meeting, though it didn't broadcast any images of Castro until the 30-minute show's closing, when it displayed several still photographs of the former leader.
Also visiting Cuba was socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, another close friend and confidant of Castro.
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