Castro mum about his return to power

HAVANA – A healthy-looking Fidel Castro hinted that his recovery was still incomplete in his first interview in 10 months, as the Cuban leader left unanswered the big question of his return to power.

Castro, 80, who underwent surgery in July last year, appeared relaxed as he sat dressed in a red-white-and-blue tracksuit chatting with an interviewer on state-controlled Cuban television. “A human being’s health is always facing threats, lurking dangers, but we’ve been doing all the things that needed to be done,” the 80-year-old Castro said in Tuesday’s interview.”All I can tell my fellow countrymen is what I’ve already said, that I’m now doing what I have to do, nothing else.There’s no secret.I can’t put it more clearly,” he said.Castro has been recovering in hospital since he underwent gastrointestinal surgery and handed over power to his brother Raul on July 31.The veteran leader, who turns 81 in August, said his health was being monitored closely, even by the United States.”They can check out anybody coming into the house with their satellites,” Castro said.”There’s no state secret,” he insisted, adding that he was eating “a much more balanced” diet.A day after handing over power to his brother, Castro had said his health was a ‘state secret’, triggering months of rumours about his return to power and Cuba’s possible transition to a more open society.Earlier this week, official media said Castro’s interview would offer “other issues of interest,” fuelling speculation that he could announce his return to power.However, Castro left unanswered the question on the mind of every Cuban, including exiles in Florida, letting lingering doubts persist about his plans for the future.US Spanish-speaking television stations that were broadcasting Castro’s interview live, broke off a half hour into the programme after it became apparent the leadership question would not be addressed.Some Cubans, however, saw his appearance as a sign that Castro was getting back to his old self.Nampa-AFP”A human being’s health is always facing threats, lurking dangers, but we’ve been doing all the things that needed to be done,” the 80-year-old Castro said in Tuesday’s interview.”All I can tell my fellow countrymen is what I’ve already said, that I’m now doing what I have to do, nothing else.There’s no secret.I can’t put it more clearly,” he said.Castro has been recovering in hospital since he underwent gastrointestinal surgery and handed over power to his brother Raul on July 31.The veteran leader, who turns 81 in August, said his health was being monitored closely, even by the United States.”They can check out anybody coming into the house with their satellites,” Castro said.”There’s no state secret,” he insisted, adding that he was eating “a much more balanced” diet.A day after handing over power to his brother, Castro had said his health was a ‘state secret’, triggering months of rumours about his return to power and Cuba’s possible transition to a more open society.Earlier this week, official media said Castro’s interview would offer “other issues of interest,” fuelling speculation that he could announce his return to power.However, Castro left unanswered the question on the mind of every Cuban, including exiles in Florida, letting lingering doubts persist about his plans for the future.US Spanish-speaking television stations that were broadcasting Castro’s interview live, broke off a half hour into the programme after it became apparent the leadership question would not be addressed.Some Cubans, however, saw his appearance as a sign that Castro was getting back to his old self.Nampa-AFP