Fidel Castro video puts latest rumors to rest

By Jeff Franks

HAVANA (Reuters) - Former Cuban President Fidel Castro's appearance in a televised video on Tuesday night put to rest the latest rumors of his imminent demise and suggested he still plays a significant role in Cuba's government.

Castro, 81, looked vigorous as he chatted with his close ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, in a sun-dappled garden in the first public images of the ailing former leader since mid-January.

The man who took power in a 1959 revolution and led Cuba for 49 years has not been seen in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006, but has surfaced sporadically in videos and photographs shown in the island's state-run media.

Even though he writes occasional newspaper columns and the government has said he remains involved in policy-making, Fidel Castro's five-month absence from public view had fed speculation that his health problems, of which little has been disclosed, were worsening and the end was near.

Thus, most were surprised at a thin but animated Castro shown in the mostly soundless video gesturing, sitting, standing and talking with his two fellow socialists about topics said by state media to range from the global food crisis to the U.S. presidential election.

"He looked good, I didn't expect to see him like that, I thought he was much worse physically because he hasn't come out in many months," said Rosa Hernandez, a 69-year-old retiree. "He looked normal."

"He continues being our commander. I saw him as animated, with mobility in his arms and good appearance, but thinner than other times," said restaurant worker Eva Cardenas.

'JOY' FOR FOLLOWERS

Alberto Mendice Sotolongo, a university worker buying the Communist Party newspaper Granma from a Havana vendor, said Castro's appearance invigorated his followers and sent a powerful message.

"His image has had a great impact. It's a great joy for we revolutionaries to show the entire world that we still have our commander-in-chief forever," he said.

Cuba experts also expressed surprise at his fitness, and said the video showed Castro continues to play a key role even though he resigned as president in February and was formally replaced by Raul Castro in a vote by the National Assembly.

Raul Castro, who is 77, had ruled provisionally since his brother's 2006 surgery and has ushered in a number of changes aimed at improving Cuba's state-run economy and addressing grievances of average Cubans.

FIDEL CASTRO 'STILL AROUND'

Dan Erikson at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think-tank, said the video was meant to signal not only that Fidel Castro is "still around and alive" but that the Castros and Chavez remain close allies.

"It is extremely significant that the video showed an extended three-way conversation between Fidel, Raul and Hugo Chavez," he said.