Picture of Fidel Castro shows former Cuban leader in apparent good health

Jimmy2 · February 15, 2009

A photograph of Fidel Castro, seeming to show the ailing former Cuban leader in good health, has been released by Chile's president.

Last Updated: 8:42AM GMT 14 Feb 2009

The picture, which shows the smiling 82-year old former leader wearing an Addidas tracksuit next to President Michelle Bachelet after a Thursday meeting in Havana, was posted on Friday on the Chilean president's official website.

Mrs Bachelet said that Mr Castro had bombarded her with statistics and questions about Chile's economy during the 90-minute meeting and told reporters that Mr Castro was "very agile" and "active".

In a column published later online, Mr Castro described their meeting as "friendly" and said Mrs Bachelet had "done me the honor of listening to me with interest".

Mr Castro had surgery for an undisclosed intestinal ailment in July 2006 and ceded control of Cuba to his brother, Raul. Since then, Fidel has kept a low profile, appearing only in a few photos and videos in which he has at times appeared frail.

He was rumoured last month to be in serious condition but the Cuban government insisted that he was still active and working.

Three weeks ago, Argentina's presidency posted a photograph of Mr Castro with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez during her visit to Cuba last month