Castro makes rare TV appearance

Updated 10.41 Sat Sep 22 2007

Keywords: Cuba, Fidel Castro

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared on television for the first time in more than three months, quashing rumours that he had died.

The 81-year-old covered various topics including the global economy and answered a question about his health saying: "Here I am... nobody knows when he is going to die."

"Here I am... nobody knows when he is going to die" - Fidel Castro

Mr Castro spoke slowly and indicated that he was up-to-date on current affairs when he talked about the strength of the euro against the dollar.

He said: "Yesterday the euro was at $1.41. Oil I think about $84 a barrel," indicating that the interview was recent.

The ailing revolutionary also read excerpts from a copy of a book by former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan - which was published this week.

Mr Castro, has not been seen in public since he handed over control to his younger brother, Raul Castro, on July 31, 2006, after having emergency intestinal surgery - fuelling rumours that his health had deteriorated or that he had died.

And there have been no official photographs or video footage of the leader since 5 June.

Earlier on Friday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said that Mr Castro had undergone several blood transfusions and had almost died.

Mr Chavez said: "Fidel is well, clearly he has not finished his recovery. He has a little problem there but he can live like this another 100 years."