[NYTr] BBC: Castro 'well enough for election'

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

BBC - Dec 25, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7159839.stm


Castro 'well enough for election'

The health of Cuban President Fidel Castro is good enough for him to be
a candidate in next month's parliamentary elections, his brother Raul
has said.

Raul Castro said Fidel was exercising two hours daily and putting on
weight.

Fidel Castro handed over power temporarily to Raul in July 2006 when he
underwent intestinal surgery.

Communist leaders back Fidel Castro's decision to run for parliament, a
prerequisite to remaining president, his younger brother said.

'Powerful mind'

Last week Fidel Castro, 81, indicated that he could possibly step down
in favour of a younger generation.

He has ruled Cuba since the 1959 revolution but has not appeared in
public since undergoing surgery last year.

Fidel Castro has maintained a presence by writing newspaper columns and
appearing in photographs and pre-recorded videos.

Now Raul Castro has said he is recovering well. He was speaking in the
eastern city of Santiago where Fidel is standing in the 20 January
elections.

"He has a powerful mind, a healthy mind, he's in full use of his mental
faculties, and, yes, he has some little physical limitations due to the
problems he had," Raul Castro said on national television.

"He does exercises for almost two hours a day, twice a day and he has
greatly recovered weight and muscle mass."

© BBC MMVII