Castro 'recovering from surgery'

Cuba's official paper recounts Raul's exploits in the revolution

Cuban President Fidel Castro is recovering "satisfactorily" from surgery, the health minister has said.

"We know Comandante Fidel will recover soon and will be back with us soon," said Jose Ramon Balaguer.

President Castro, 79, on Monday temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul, provoking intense speculation about his health in Cuba and the US.

Cuba's communist leadership has assured Cubans that Raul Castro is firmly in charge of the nation.

Mr Balaguer, a doctor and long-time party official, made his comments about Fidel Castro's health during a visit to Guatemala.

He said Cuban officials had received "messages of support from the most far-flung places of the world" since it was announced that the president was handing over power to his brother while he recovered from stomach surgery.

The lead story in Friday's edition of the official newspaper, Granma, declared that Raul Castro was at the helm of the nation and of the armed forces.

The paper also printed a half-century-old photograph of Raul as a 22-year-old man, shortly after he was arrested in the early years of the Cuban revolution, and recounted his exploits in heroic terms.

Adjustment

While life goes on as normal on the island, correspondents say Raul Castro's failure to appear in public since Monday's announcement and a lack of information about his brother's whereabouts are fuelling speculation.

Profile of Fidel Castro Profile of Raul Castro

The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Havana says one theory is that the acting president is deliberately giving Cubans time to adjust to the reality that, at least temporarily, the only leader they have known for the last 47 years is out of action.

"Fidel is a good man. He has been very good to the poor. I'm sure Raul is good too, it's just that Fidel is a symbol for us," one man told the BBC.

Another Havana resident had harsh words for Cuban exiles who celebrated in Miami's streets when news emerged that Fidel Castro was ill.

"Why are they celebrating in Miami? It doesn't matter what he has or hasn't done, he is still a man so who would be happy to see another sick?"

US broadcast

On Thursday, President Bush pledged Washington's support for Cubans who sought "to build a transitional government in Cuba committed to democracy".

HAVE YOUR SAY It's amazing to see citizens in Cuba cower behind Castro, afraid of everything Jim, Miami, Fla. USA Send us your comments Views from Havana and Miami

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made a broadcast to the Cuban people, telling them that America is committed to a future of freedom for Cuba.

The message went out on Radio and TV Marti, a US government-funded operation broadcast from America.

"All Cubans who desire peaceful democratic change can count on the support of the United States," she said.

The BBC's Nick Miles reports from Washington that the Cuban government tries, largely successfully, to block US broadcasts but those people on the island who do hear Ms Rice will notice a hands-off approach from America.

Clearly America is hoping for a peaceful transition that avoids the risk of a huge refugee crisis, our correspondent says.

The US imposed an embargo on the Caribbean island in 1962 - three years after Mr Castro took power - which remains in place.

Fidel Castro - who turns 80 this month - is one of the world's longest-ruling leaders, and has outlasted nine US presidents.