Castro makes rare TV appearance

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Fidel Castro on Cuban state television

Cuban state television has broadcast the first video in five months of the country's former leader, Fidel Castro.

The pictures of Mr Castro are the first since he relinquished power to Raul in February. He has not been seen in public since falling ill in July 2006.

The silent footage shows Mr Castro at a meeting in Havana on Monday with his younger brother, President Raul Castro, and Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez.

Mr Chavez said he had discussed issues such as the food and energy crises.

"Fidel is sitting there, alive and well, thinking, writing and dictating important strategies for Cuba and our Latin America," Mr Chavez told reporters on Monday.

Earlier, state media said the former leader had held "animated and friendly" talks with his staunchest ally which lasted for three hours.

In the video, Mr Castro is wearing a Cuban national team track suit and is shown sitting, as well as on his feet.

The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says the 81-year-old appears thinner, and his hair and beard are sparser and whiter.

No details about his state of health were mentioned by state media.

The ailing revolutionary was last seen in a video when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Cuba on 16 January.

Our correspondent says Mr Castro's absence from the public eye has fed rumours that his health was failing, especially after a gap of two weeks in early May without any of his regular newspaper editorials.