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HAVANA-Former Cuban President Fidel Castro's appearance in a televised video on Tuesday night put to rest the latest rumors of his imminent demise and suggested he still plays a significant role in Cuba's government.Castro, 81, looked vigorous as he chatted with his close ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, in a sun-dappled garden in the first public images of the ailing former leader since mid-January.The man who took power in a 1959 revolution and led Cuba for 49 years has not been seen in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006, but has surfaced sporadically in videos and photographs shown in the island's state-run media.Even though he writes occasional newspaper columns and the government has said he remains involved in policy-making, Fidel Castro's five-month absence from public view had fed speculation that his health problems, of which little has been disclosed, were worsening and the end was near.Thus, most were surprised at a thin but animated Castro shown in the mostly soundless video gesturing, sitting, standing and talking with his two fellow socialists about topics said by state media to range from the global food crisis to the U.S. presidential election."He looked good, I didn't expect to see him like that, I thought he was much worse physically because he hasn't come out in many months," said Rosa Hernandez, a 69-year-old retiree. "He looked normal.""He continues being our commander. I saw him as animated, with mobility in his arms and good appearance, but thinner than other times," said restaurant worker Eva Cardenas.To read more go to:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1846064220080618
As in the days of Noah...
