Cuba TV leaves Castro birthday plans up in air
Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:37 AM GMT31
HAVANA (Reuters) - An influential program on state-run Cuban television
on Thursday described plans for ailing Fidel Castro's 80th birthday
celebration but did not mention whether he would attend and said his
ideas were more important than his presence.
The nightly "Mesa Redonda" show, often used by the government to
disclose news, was devoted entirely to the December 2 event, but its
participants stayed away from the topic of Castro's health.
Moderator Randy Alonso said in a closing statement that "more than the
physical presence, the ideas of Fidel, the ideas of the revolution" were
important to the celebration.
Castro had intestinal surgery for an undisclosed illness and temporarily
turned over leadership to brother Raul on July 31.
He has not been in public since, but an October 28 video showed him to
be gaunt and frail, raising questions about whether he would recover
enough to return to power.
Many in Cuba view the December 2 event, which also marks the 50th
anniversary of the revolution that put him in power in 1959, as an
important milestone for Castro.
Government officials have said he is recovering but that his attendance
for the celebration is uncertain.
His 80th birthday was August 13, but he was unable to celebrate in
public and suggested it be marked on December 2.
The highlight of the celebration will be Havana's first military parade
in a decade, with art, music and literary events leading up to it.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2006-11-17T033719Z_01_N16224422_RTRUKOC_0_UK-CUBA-CASTRO.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-10
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