| Cuba's interim leader, Raul Castro, has | | | | Castro may be dying of terminal cancer. He is |
| denied a U.S. media report that his brother, | | | | gravely ill, his recovery will take at least |
| President Fidel Castro, is dying of cancer | | | | months, before he can make a public |
| and will not return to power. Raul Castro | | | | appearance. And, even then, it may be more of |
| said his brother is resting, but works each | | | | a long farewell than a true return to power." |
| day a little more. Some Cuban experts in | | | | |
| Miami say the long-time Communist president | | | | Julio Cesar Alfonso is a Cuban doctor, now |
| of the Caribbean island is gravely ill. | | | | living in exile in Miami. He is also |
| | | | president of the non-profit organization, |
| Ever since Cuban President Fidel Castro had | | | | "Solidarity without Borders," a group founded |
| intestinal surgery in late July and | | | | by foreign medical doctors in the U.S. to |
| temporarily ceded power to his brother Raul, | | | | help other doctors. He says Mr. Castro was |
| Cuban authorities have been adamant that | | | | diagnosed with intestinal cancer when he |
| their fiery leader will return to power. | | | | traveled to France in 1997, and has probably |
| | | | been receiving treatment for it. He said the |
| At an anti-U.S. trade embargo rally last | | | | cancer has now likely reached a terminal |
| week, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez | | | | stage: |
| Roque said Fidel Castro is recovering, and | | | | |
| will soon be back "leading the revolution." | | | | "Castro looks very sick," he said. "He has |
| | | | lost more than 40 kilos in 15 or 20 days. One |
| A report in Time magazine this week cites | | | | can see that he acts like someone who is |
| unnamed U.S. officials saying many in the | | | | seriously ill. It's not the normal behavior |
| U.S. government are now convinced that the | | | | of Castro, when he's conversing with people |
| 80-year-old Castro has terminal cancer, and | | | | like [Venezuelan President Hugo] Chavez or |
| will never return to power. | | | | other foreign dignitaries." |
| | | | |
| In Communist Cuba, details of Fidel Castro's | | | | Several weeks ago photos were released of Mr. |
| health are a state secret. One official | | | | Castro meeting with President Chavez in a |
| quoted in the Time magazine report cautioned | | | | private setting. |
| that intelligence reports could be wrong, and | | | | |
| that there is no definitive proof. | | | | The eyes of many experts are now on interim |
| | | | leader Raul Castro. The 75-year-old defense |
| Hans de Salas is a research associate at the | | | | minister was long under the shadow of his |
| University of Miami: | | | | older brother, but has been seeking a higher |
| | | | profile recently. Two weeks ago, he delivered |
| "It's all speculation at this point," said | | | | his first nationally televised speech at the |
| Hans de Salas. "We can neither verify, nor | | | | close of a trade union congress. |
| inherently doubt the possibility that Fidel | | | | |