Castro recovery slow, involves health risk -Chavez

QUITO, Jan 16 (Reuters) Cuban President Fidel Castro's recovery from surgery is slow and has risks, his close ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said today, but he denied reports Castro's condition was serious.

''He is not in a serious condition as some say, nor does he have cancer,'' Chavez told reporters during a visit to Ecuador.

''He said (to me) it's a slow recovery process not without risk.

He's 80 years old,'' said Chavez, who spoke by telephone with Castro earlier this month.

A Spanish newspaper reported this week that Castro was in ''very serious'' condition and being fed intravenously after complications following intestinal surgery last year that forced the veteran Cuban leader to temporarily hand power over to his brother.

REUTERS AB BST0013