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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Vague comments made about Castro's health

Vague comments made about Castro's health
Posted on Mon, Aug. 06, 2007
BY PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com

WASHINGTON --
Two Cuban officials have made intriguing statements in recent days that
raise questions about Fidel Castro's health.

Castro handed power to his brother Raúl last summer following emergency
surgery. He has written several newspaper columns in recent weeks and is
reported to be recuperating, but has not been seen in public in more
than a year.

Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage raised eyebrows Sunday when he
telephoned Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's live talk program, Aló
Presidente, apparently to fill in for Castro.

``The comandante saw the dawn today working, working intensely like all
these days, calling various compañeros on different issues.

``And when Aló Presidente started he interrupted the work to dedicate
himself to watching.

``I can tell you that he's watching it, that he has been watching all
your reflections, informations and analysis. . . . Fidel is focusing on
the program. He doesn't miss a minute, he doesn't miss one detail. And
he called me in a hurry to tell me to call you.''

''I am grateful for your call,'' Chávez replied. ``We had been expecting
to talk to Fidel. It can't be done today, it will be possible on another
occasion.''

Lage did not explain why Fidel Castro could not call Chávez, despite his
reported interest in the program.

A story Friday by the Spanish EFE news agency attributed another comment
to Raúl Castro's daughter Mariela, who heads Cuba's National Sexual
Education Center and has sometimes acted as a Castro family spokesperson
on her uncle's health status.

The EFE story said: 'One year after Fidel Castro, who on the 13th will
be 81 years old, delegated power to his brother Raúl, 76, because of a
grave intestinal ailment, Mariela Castro acknowledges: `The concern that
we all had about losing our leader is now closer to us.' ''

It was not clear if ''now closer'' referred broadly to the year since
Fidel Castro took ill or a more recent period.

Mariela Castro also was quoted as making an interesting comment on
Cuba's power succession:

''For the first time, the people are taking stock of his [Fidel's]
process of aging, the process that the revolution has to continue
without him, be it with my father or with other leaders who will come,
who will emerge, because at times leaders appear when you least imagine
it,'' she said.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/194697.html

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