Fidel Castro Appears on Cuban TV
June 6, 2007
Cuban President Fidel Castro appeared on state-run television Tuesday for the first time in nearly a year since his illness prompted him to step aside.
In a taped interview, the ailing Castro talked about his recent meeting with Vietnamese Communist Party leader Nong Duc Manh.
The 80-year-old Communist leader turned over authorities to his younger brother Raul Castro last July after announcing he was suffering from an unspecified gastro-intestinal illness that required surgery.
Following his decision to step down — albeit temporarily — U.S. officials publicly speculated Castro was suffering from cancer and had only months to live.
However, Cuban officials assert Castro is recovering and taking on more leadership responsibilities.