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Fidel Castro: I'm Not Sick

Reports otherwise are 'dishonest': Cuban ex-leader

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2012 2:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – Contrary to recent reports, Fidel Castro is doing just fine, he writes in Cuban state media on the heels of his first public appearance in months. "I don't even remember what a headache feels like," he notes, calling the reports—which included claims the Cuban leader was hardly functional after a stroke—"dishonest." The online piece included pictures of Castro standing outdoors; in one image, he's reading the paper, the AP reports. He slams Western media for what he calls decades of misleading press.

The article follows a former Venezuelan vice-president's assertion yesterday that when he met with Castro this weekend, the ex-leader was in "magnificent" health. The former veep showed the AP photos of the meeting. As to why Castro stopped writing his frequent opinion pieces in June: "I stopped publishing 'Reflections' because it was really not my role to take up pages in our press which are needed for other work the country requires," he notes.

This picture released by Cubadebate on its website early Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 shows Cuban leader Fidel Castro Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.
This picture released by Cubadebate on its website early Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 shows Cuban leader Fidel Castro Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.   (AP Photo/Alex Castro, Cubadebate)
Castro is shown in a picture from the Cuban website.
Castro is shown in a picture from the Cuban website.   (AP Photo/Alex Castro, Cubadebate)
Fidel Castro holds a copy of the Oct. 19, 2012 edition of the newspaper Granma.
Fidel Castro holds a copy of the Oct. 19, 2012 edition of the newspaper Granma.   (AP Photo/Alex Castro, Cubadebate)
Former Venezuelan vice president Elias Jaua shows a picture of Fidel Castro, third from left, at the Hotel Nacional in Havana. According to Jaua, the picture was taken Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012.
Former Venezuelan vice president Elias Jaua shows a picture of Fidel Castro, third from left, at the Hotel Nacional in Havana. According to Jaua, the picture was taken Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012.   (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 3 comments
LoginsSuck
Oct 22, 2012 10:00 AM CDT
The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.  Now those rumors of people wanting me dead, yeah they are pretty much true.
SteveDore
Oct 22, 2012 9:10 AM CDT
If that picture running next to the story means anything, Fidel isn't sick, he's dead.  Talk about looking like death warmed over.
 

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