Fidel not in danger as he convalesces: minister
HAVANA (AFP) — There is no reason to believe that Cuban President Fidel Castro's life is in danger as he convalesces, Culture Minister Abel Prieto said late Friday.
The statement came amid a wave of rumors, especially among the Cuban-American community in Florida, that Cuba's long-time communist leader, who has not been seen in public since undergoing surgery over a year ago, is either dead or on his deathbed.
"I have no element that leads me to believe that the life of Fidel is in danger," Prieto told reporters during the presentation of a book on Castro's speeches on the environment.
Prieto said that he did not have direct news about Castro's health, but pointed to a series of newspaper opinion articles signed by the Cuban leader to say that he is is "very active intellectually."
Castro, who turned 81 on August 13 with little fanfare in Cuba, underwent intestinal surgery in July 2006 and handed power over temporarily to his younger brother Raul, 76.
He has not been seen in public since before the operation, though he has appeared in photographs and eight videos, the last of which aired on June 5.
Forty-one opinion articles attributed to Castro have also appeared in the government-run newspapers, the most recent on August 26.
"As far as I know Fidel is working, is writing, is publishing articles that I believe are not from a person that is in a state of delicate health," Prieto said.
"Evidently Fidel is very active intellectually and I, although I do not have direct news about how he feels, believe that undoubtedly he is a person that is engaged in intellectual activity and leaving material of great value," Prieto said.
Speculation on Castro's health has gone through cycles since he handed power over to Raul, the commander of the Cuban armed forces.
Rumors intensified when Castro's birthday went by with no photographs or even a visit by his friend the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, as happened in 2006.
Cuban officials say that they treat news on Castro's health as a state secret.
