This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7043701.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Castro speaks live on Chavez show Castro speaks live on Chavez show
(about 3 hours later)
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has spoken by phone on a live television programme hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Cuban President Fidel Castro has spoken live on television for the first time since handing over power last year as he underwent a serious operation.
Mr Chavez's weekly show was being broadcast from central Cuba. Mr Castro spoke by phone on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's weekly chat show, being broadcast from Cuba.
He is in the country to take part in ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of the arrest and execution of revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara. Mr Chavez is in the country to mark the 40th anniversary of the killing of revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara.
Mr Castro has not appeared in public since surgery forced him to cede power to his brother last year. Mr Castro phoned to discuss the Guevara legacy, and the two leaders laughed and joked together for several minutes.
During the programme, Mr Chavez showed a video of his meeting with the Cuban leader at the weekend. Video footage from a meeting between Mr Chavez and the Cuban leader, said to have been filmed on Saturday, was also shown during the programme.
In the tape, Mr Chavez is seen singing hymns to Mr Castro and calling him "father of all revolutionaries". 'Father of revolutionaries'
Mr Castro said he was moved by the tribute, and went on to praise Che Guevara as a "harvester of ideas". The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Havana said Mr Castro's voice was strong and he sounded like he was on the road to recovery.
Mr Castro has not appeared in public since surgery forced him to cede power to his brother, Raul, last year.
In the video footage, Mr Chavez is seen singing hymns to Mr Castro and calling him "father of all revolutionaries".
The Cuban leader said he was moved by the tribute, and went on to praise Che Guevara as a "harvester of ideas".
After the tape was aired, Mr Chavez spoke to Mr Castro on the phone and told him: "Everyone is electrified to hear you."After the tape was aired, Mr Chavez spoke to Mr Castro on the phone and told him: "Everyone is electrified to hear you."
The programme was broadcast from Guevara mausoleum in the Cuban city of Santa Clara.The programme was broadcast from Guevara mausoleum in the Cuban city of Santa Clara.
In September Mr Castro appeared on Cuban TV, ending rumours that he had died or suffered a major relapse. In September, pictures of Mr Castro were broadcast on Cuban TV, ending rumours that he had died or suffered a major relapse.