[NYTr] Chavez vows to continue Castro's struggle

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via International Herald Tribune - July 26, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/27/america/LA-GEN-Venezuela-Chavez.php

Venezuela's Chavez vows to continue Castro's 'struggle' after Cuban
leader's death

CARACAS, Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez promised his close friend and
ally Fidel Castro on Thursday that he would continue the Cuban leader's
decades-long fight against U.S. imperialism once the aging
revolutionary icon has passed away.

"Fidel, I assume the commitment of continuing your struggle, your
endless battle. I assume it. We, your children, assume it," said
Chavez, a former paratroop commander who is steering Venezuela toward
socialism.

Since taking office in 1999, Chavez has forged strong ties with
communist-led Cuba while emerging as one of Latin America's most
outspoken critics of Washington's foreign policy in the region.

Castro, who turns 81 next month, has not been seen in public since
emergency intestinal surgery almost a year ago forced him to
temporarily cede power to a provisional government headed by his
younger brother.

Recuperating in an undisclosed location, the Cuban leader has looked
stronger in recent official photographs and videos, but is apparently
still too sick to appear in public. In April, he began penning essays
known as "Reflections of the Commander in Chief" every few days.

Chavez has regularly offered updates on Castro's health. During his
televised speech on Thursday, he praised his mentor for living life to
the fullest despite his age.

"There's Fidel, soon he's going to turn 81 years old, fighting, living
each day of his fruitful life intensely," Chavez said. "I know you are
not going to leave yet. No, I know it."