Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro received a visit at his bedside from his main ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said on Monday, publishing pictures of the two men
HAVANA: Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro received a visit at his bedside from his main ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said on Monday, publishing pictures of the two men.
The daily said Castro, who underwent stomach surgery two weeks ago, was fighting "for life".
The gallery of pictures posted on Granma's Web site (http:www.granma.cubaweb.cu) show Chavez shaking Castro's hand on his 80th birthday on Sunday, handing him presents, writing notes together and drinking what appears to be milk.
Castro is lying in bed in what looks like a hospital room. The two men, fierce critics of U.S. policies in Latin America, are wearing bright red shirts.
Also present at the reunion was Castro's younger brother Raul, who made his first public appearance on Sunday as acting president of Cuba when he greeted Chavez at Havana airport.
"It was an unforgettable afternoon, shared between brothers of the cause, that brought new strength and encouragement to the brave Comandante of a thousand battles who is seeking a new victory for life," Granma said.
Castro handed over the reins of government temporarily to his brother on July 31 after undergoing surgery to stop intestinal bleeding. There were no new details on Castro's condition.
But in a birthday message to Cubans on Sunday, Castro said his recovery could take time and cautioned them to be ready for bad news.
"I suggest you be optimistic and, at the same time, always prepared to receive bad news," he said in his message.
SOME SKEPTICAL: Venezuela's presidential press office said Chavez met with Castro but did not describe the meeting.
In Bolivia, President Evo Morales sang "Happy Birthday, comandante" to Castro on Sunday and vowed to take him a birthday cake made with coca leaves -- the raw material used to make cocaine.
News that their leader had appeared in photographs and was on the mend came as a relief to many Cubans worried his death could create upheaval in one of the world's last communist outposts.
Others were more skeptical about the pictures and thought his condition was worse than the nation was being told.
Details of Castro's health are considered a state secret. It is not known just what kind of operation he underwent, or whether he will be able to resume his government duties.
After 47 years in power, Castro is the last of the key Cold War-era figures on the world stage and has survived 10 U.S. presidents, despite efforts to oust him.
He also survived the collapse of Cuba's benefactor, the Soviet Union.
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