Castro sends New Year's message to Cubans

Havana, Dec 31: In a New Year's message, ailing Cuban leaderFidel Castro said he was recovering slowly from abdominal surgery andthanked his people for their courage during his recuperation.

''Concerning my recovery I always said it would be a long process,but it's far from being a lost battle,'' said Castro's message, whichwas read out on state-run radio stations yesterday.

''I have not stopped being informed of the most importantinformation and events. I discuss them with my closest comrades whencooperation on vital matters is called for.'' The 80-year-old Cubanleader praised Cubans ''maturity and calm'' in recent months and took aswipe at ''global imperialism'' for consuming the world's resources anddestroying the environment, before wishing Cubans a happy New Year.

Castro has not appeared in public since July, when he had surgeryfor a condition that is being treated as a state secret. He temporarilyhanded power to his younger brother Raul Castro, Cuba's veteran defenseminister.

Fidel Castro's prolonged absence from the public eye has fueledspeculation that he is terminally ill. He was last seen in video imagesreleased Oct. 28 that showed a frail man who had difficulty walking.

Cuba has been keen to show that Castro is still involved in statematters, but U.S. officials in Washington suspect Castro has cancer,though they have offered no evidence to back that up.

US intelligence chief John Negroponte told The Washington Post on Dec. 15 that Castro was likely to die within months.

However, a Spanish surgeon who examined Castro said last week thathe does not have cancer, is making a good recovery from the surgery andcould return to governing Cuba.

Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, head of surgery at Madrid's GregorioMaranon hospital, said Castro did not need further surgery but requiredphysical therapy, a strict diet and rest.

''He does not have cancer, he has a problem with his digestive system,'' Garcia Sabrido told Reuters.

Reuters