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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Castro recovering after successful surgery |
| 2006-08-01 |
| Fidel Castro's surgery to stop intestinal bleeding was successful and the Cuban leader was recovering, his allies said Tuesday. Darn. I was hoping for "stable." The Venezuelan government said in a statement that it had "received with satisfaction the information from Cuban authorities according to which the recovery process of President Fidel Castro is advancing positively." The statement did not give specifics about Castro's condition. A leftist Argentine lawmaker, Miguel Bonasso, said he called Castro aides Monday night and was told the surgery "was successful" and the leader was resting. Cuban state television announced Monday night that Castro had been operated on to repair a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" and had temporarily turned over presidential powers his brother Raul, shocking Cubans on the island and in exile. It was the first time that Castro, two weeks away from 80th birthday, had relinquished power in 47 years of absolute rule. Castro said in a letter read live by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga, that extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure." Castro did not appear on the broadcast. Some government work centers summoned employees to participate in outdoor political gatherings to express support for Fidel. Dozens of workers at one gathering waved small Cuban flags and shouted: "Long live Fidel!" "There is no one else like him," True, now that Pol Pot and Hitler are dead. said Osmar Fernandez, 27, drinking rum at a cafe. "I want Fidel to live for 80 more years." As long as it's in great pain. It was unknown when or where the surgery took place or where Castro was recovering. I guess the CIA wouldn't know. And if they did, wouldn't do anything (effective) about it. Chinese President Hu Jintao also sent a message of good wishes to Castro, the official Xinhua News Agency said. He would. |
| Posted by:Jackal |