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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Chavez admits Castro gravely ill | Chavez admits Castro gravely ill |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Cuban leader Fidel Castro is battling to save his life, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said. | Cuban leader Fidel Castro is battling to save his life, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said. |
| Mr Chavez, a close friend of Cuba's left-wing leader, said he hoped Mr Castro would recover but admitted he faced a hard struggle. | Mr Chavez, a close friend of Cuba's left-wing leader, said he hoped Mr Castro would recover but admitted he faced a hard struggle. |
| Mr Castro, 80, has not been seen in public since undergoing surgery in July and handing over political power. | Mr Castro, 80, has not been seen in public since undergoing surgery in July and handing over political power. |
| Mr Chavez spoke at the Latin American summit in Brazil in a rare admission of the state of Mr Castro's health. | |
| Chavez hopeful | Chavez hopeful |
| Venezuela's president said he spoke to the Cuban leader by telephone for half an hour several days ago. | Venezuela's president said he spoke to the Cuban leader by telephone for half an hour several days ago. |
| I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years Hugo ChavezVenezuelan president "He is going through a difficult situation but just like he says, the machine that they have to fix is 80 years old," Mr Chavez told the Mercosaur trade summit. | I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years Hugo ChavezVenezuelan president "He is going through a difficult situation but just like he says, the machine that they have to fix is 80 years old," Mr Chavez told the Mercosaur trade summit. |
| "I cannot give details [of his health] because I am not his doctor, and even if I was I would not give them to you. | "I cannot give details [of his health] because I am not his doctor, and even if I was I would not give them to you. |
| "He's back in the Sierra Maestra and locked in a battle for his life," Mr Chavez said. | "He's back in the Sierra Maestra and locked in a battle for his life," Mr Chavez said. |
| "There are those who want Fidel to die... [but] we have confidence he will recover completely. | "There are those who want Fidel to die... [but] we have confidence he will recover completely. |
| "I don't know when Fidel will die, I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years." | "I don't know when Fidel will die, I hope he lives 80 more years, I hope he lives 100 more years." |
| 'Slow recovery' | 'Slow recovery' |
| There have been steady reports suggesting that Mr Castro's condition is extremely serious. | There have been steady reports suggesting that Mr Castro's condition is extremely serious. |
| In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Dr Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, head of surgery at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon public hospital, described Mr Castro's recovery as "slow but progressive". | In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Dr Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, head of surgery at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon public hospital, described Mr Castro's recovery as "slow but progressive". |
| Dr Garcia Sabrido told Reuters he examined the Cuban leader late last year. | Dr Garcia Sabrido told Reuters he examined the Cuban leader late last year. |
| "For a patient of his age, who has had complications after an operation, it's always going to be a general prognosis." | "For a patient of his age, who has had complications after an operation, it's always going to be a general prognosis." |
| Earlier this week a Spanish newspaper quoted medical sources as saying Mr Castro opted for a risky medical procedure that led to grave complications. | Earlier this week a Spanish newspaper quoted medical sources as saying Mr Castro opted for a risky medical procedure that led to grave complications. |