Recovering ahead of birthday

Source: CCTV.com

08-13-2006 10:15

Cuban President Fidel Castro is sitting up, walking, talking and being briefed. That's according to a statement published in the Communist Party daily, Granma. The good news comes a day before Castro's 80th birthday. It is the most optimistic report on the Cuban leader, since his July 31 announcement that he had undergone intestinal surgery. Since that time he has been temporarily ceding his powers to his brother, Raul.

The headline of the newspaper article reads "Firm Like a Caguairan", comparing Castro to a hardwood tropical tree native to eastern Cuba and famed for its hardy nature.

The Cuban people expressed their joy and relief after hearing that their leader is recovering.

Carriage driver Alejandro Rodriguez said:"We are so lucky that his spirits are up and he's getting better, like the newspaper says. The Caguairan is up. We hope he gets up and walks and then runs with all of us behind him. That is what is necessary."

Newspaper vendor Evelio Rojas said:"It's very important that he is walking, very important. I hope that he'll recover soon and live a long life. Because there's no one better than Fidel."

Despite the optimistic assessment of Castro's progress, few believed that he would be making a public appearance on his birthday on Sunday.

Castro's 80th birthday was to have been the greatest tribute with several days of parties, concerts and conferences on his legacy. But it has all been scaled back considerably.

However, on Friday evening, dozens of photos spanning decades of the president's life, were on display for the general public.

The celebrations planned for this weekend have now been moved to December 2, the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Castro and his supporters from Mexico to Cuba, to begin the fight for the revolution.

Editor:WangKe