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Castro says worst behind him
05/09/2006 14:56 - (SA)
Havana - Cuban President Fidel Castro said in a handwritten statement published on Tuesday that the worst part of his health crisis was over and that he would attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana next week.
"You can say the most critical moment is behind me," Castro said in the statement, published in the official daily Granma and accompanied by dozens of snapshots.
"Today I'm recovering at a satisfactory pace. I'll be receiving distinguished visitors over the next few days," he wrote.
"That doesn't mean that every activity (of mine) will be immediately covered by film and photos, although news coverage will always be provided."
Video images
Cubans had last seen images of Castro on Friday, when video pictures showed him chatting in his sickbed with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. On August 14, the day after his 80th birthday, he issued a statement.
Prior to that, Castro had not been seen since before July 31, when a statement was read on his behalf on television, saying he had undergone surgery and had temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul.
No details on health
No concrete information is available on the status of Castro's health, guarded as "a state secret" by the Communist government, which fears it could be used by Cuba's enemies.
Castro, who in the latest pictures is dressed in blue or white pyjamas, said he had lost 18.5kg in just a few days and that after 34 days of convalescence doctors had removed the last stitches from his intestinal operation.
He referred to Friday's video images and said: "Some people, with reason, said I looked a little thinner, as the only thing unfavourable. I'm very happy they recognised that."
He said "not a single day" went by, even at the start of his illness, without him making "an effort to overcome the adverse political consequences of such an unexpected health problem", adding that progress had been made in "several important issues".
- AFP
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