Castro turns down invite to Brazil

[Jimmy2]

Castro turns down invite to Brazil due to ill healthPublished: Saturday, 2 February, 2008, 01:58 AM Doha Time

HAVANA: Cuban leader Fidel Castro turned down an invitation to visit Brazil from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, citing health reasons, Castro himself wrote in an essay published yesterday.

Castro, in an editorial in Granma, the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, said Lula extended the invitation during his visit here January 15.

“Almost at the end (of the meeting) he said: ‘You are invited to come to Brazil this year.’

“‘Thanks,’ I told him,” Castro recalled. “At least in thoughts I will be there.”

Castro, 81, has been recovering since undergoing intestinal surgery 18 months ago, when he handed over power temporarily to his brother Raul Castro, the regime’s number-two and defence chief, 76.

Fidel Castro said he told Lula he was recovering from the intestinal ailment and consequences of a fall off a stage in 2004.

Cubans are anxious for news on whether Fidel Castro will resume power or formally step aside.

Interim president Raul Castro said on January 20 that the National Assembly would elect Cuba’s next president on February 24, amid speculation ailing Fidel might not be its choice for the first time in almost five decades. – AFP

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Jimmy...

I appreciate these little news items from Cuba. It certainly is a watershed time in Cuban history, and the next year or two should be quite interesting. I always check out the Cuban house organ, Granma:

http://www.granma.cu/INGLES/