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Cuban leader Castro appears on TV

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-31-2007 14:59

Cuba's President Fidel Castro and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez (R) look at a book during the daily newscast Mesa Redona in Havana in this image taken from television January 30, 2007.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared on state television--his first public appearance in three months.

On Tuesday, Cuban state television showed Castro standing and chatting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Castro looked stronger than in previous images since he underwent intestinal surgery in July.

The 80-year-old leader held a two-hour private meeting with Chavez in Havana, Monday. He said he still is recovering. Castro dropped from public view six months ago after emergency surgery for intestinal bleeding. He handed over power temporarily to his younger brother Raul four days later.

Cuba denies Castro has cancer. Some experts think he might be suffering from diverticulitis, a disorder of the large intestine.