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Raul Castro says Fidel is healthy Cuba's Fidel Castro 'doing well'
(about 2 hours later)
Cuban President Raul Castro has dismissed speculation that his brother Fidel's health had worsened. Speculation that the health of former Cuban President Fidel Castro has worsened has been dismissed by two top regional leaders.
"He is exercising, thinking a lot, reading a lot," said Mr Castro of his older brother, the former Cuban leader. Argentine President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner said Mr Castro, 82, seemed healthy, after she had an hour of talks with him in Havana.
Fidel Castro stepped down from the presidency in 2008 after undergoing major intestinal surgery in July 2006. Meanwhile, Cuban President Raul Castro said his older brother was "exercising, thinking a lot, reading a lot".
He has not appeared publicly since his surgery and speculation about his health has risen since he stopped writing newspaper columns recently. Fidel Castro has not appeared publicly since his intestinal surgery in 2006.
'Fidel fine' He stepped down as president in February 2008.
President Castro made the remarks to reporters as he accompanied visiting Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to Havana's airport as she ended a visit to Cuba. No new pictures
Ms Fernandez met with Fidel Castro on Wednesday and said he seemed healthy. Ms Fernandez said she held talks with Fidel Castro on Wednesday, saying that he seemed healthy.
"I was with Fidel about an hour," she said. "We talked a lot about Obama. He had a very good impression of Obama and he seemed to believe what he said," she told reporters. Fidel Castro's last known photograph was released last year
"Now you know that Fidel is fine, and not like the rumours around here," Raul Castro said. "I was with Fidel about an hour," she said. "We talked a lot about [US President Barack] Obama.
"He had a very good impression of Obama and he seemed to believe what he said," she told reporters.
No pictures of the talks were immediately released.
Ms Fernandez is the first foreign leader to see Fidel Castro since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met him on 28 November, said Associated Press news agency.
"Now you know that Fidel is fine, and not like the rumours around here," Raul Castro said, as he accompanied Mrs Fernandez to Havana's airport.
"Soon I'm going to make a trip to Europe. Do you think I could leave from here if Fidel was gravely ill?""Soon I'm going to make a trip to Europe. Do you think I could leave from here if Fidel was gravely ill?"
He said his brother was helping him with his duties.He said his brother was helping him with his duties.
Ms Fernandez is the first foreign leader to see Fidel Castro since Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met him on 28 November, said Associated Press news agency.
Fidel Castro also did not attend celebrations earlier this month for the 50th anniversary of Cuba's revolution, which saw him take power.Fidel Castro also did not attend celebrations earlier this month for the 50th anniversary of Cuba's revolution, which saw him take power.
His absence further fuelled rumours that his health had badly deteriorated.His absence further fuelled rumours that his health had badly deteriorated.