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Castro denies Parkinson's claim
18/11/2005 08:26 - (SA)
Havana - Fidel Castro has scoffed at new reports that he suffers from Parkinson's disease, saying those who believe the countless rumours about his health will be disappointed when he lives on.
In an apparent first, he insisted he would step down if he became too ill to govern.
Castro said: "They have tried to kill me off so many times." He was speaking to student leaders who gathered on Thursday to mark the start of the 79-year-old president's studies at the University of Havana 60 years ago.
But, Castro said, "disappointment follows disappointment", for those who believe and circulate the frequent reports that his health was suffering. He said: "I feel, luckily, better than ever."
Castro's health
Dressed in his trademark olive green uniform, the communist leader looked fit and actually seemed to gain strength as he stood at a mahogany lectern inside the university's elegant Aula Magna during a speech that stretched for more than 4 1/2 hours.
The latest report about Castro's health emerged on Wednesday after United States officials said that American intelligence analysis indicated that he may suffer from Parkinson's disease.
The report was first carried by The Miami Herald, citing government officials as saying the CIA was briefing American policy makers about the Cuban leader's health and warning them to be prepared if his health deteriorated and made it difficult for him to lead.
'I don't neglect myself'
The Cuban president, now in power for nearly 47 years, said he would not insist on remaining in power if he ever became too sick to lead the country.
Castro said: "If I don't feel I'm in condition, I'll call the Communist Party and tell them I don't feel I'm in condition ... that please, someone take over the command."
But, Castro also indicated such a scenario was unlikely to occur soon, telling the students that he exercises regularly, watches his diet, "and don't neglect myself in any way".
He said: "And now they say that the CIA has discovered I have Parkinson's!"
'Pope John Paul II had Parkinson's'
Castro said: "I wouldn't care if I got Parkinson's, the Pope John Paul II had Parkinson's."
Countless rumours had circulated about Castro's health for the years, especially as he had grown older, and they had been regularly dismissed by Cuban authorities.
The reports about Parkinson's, a degenerative disease that could cause tremors, had been around for at least seven years. He also had been reported to suffer from everything from strokes to cancer.
The obsession with the Cuban leader's health was especially profound in South Florida, home to hundreds of thousands of anti-Castro exiles who dreamt of a different country after their nemesis died.
- AP
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