Raul Castro says bro Fidel on top of everything

Havana, Feb 9: Acting Cuban President Raul Castro said hisbrother Fidel was improving and ''on top of everything'' in his firstcomments to the foreign press since stepping in for the 80-year-oldCuban leader six months ago.

Raul Castro, after attending the opening of an international bookfair in Havana, said his brother was ''improving by the day'' and had''a telephone by his side that he uses a lot.'' ''Lucky for me he nevercalls me,'' added a smiling Raul Castro, known for his wry wit.

Fidel Castro, who ceded power temporarily July 31, has notappeared in public since undergoing emergency surgery for intestinalbleeding.

The operation meant Castro initially could not eat, but there alsowere media reports that at the end of last year his health worsenedagain and he had to be fed intravenously.

The ambassador to Cuba from ally Venezuela said on Thursday Castro was recovering well because he could eat once again.

''Fidel is improving progressively. The problem is that originallyhe could not take in foods but now he is taking in foods and that hasimproved his health significantly,'' Ambassador Ali Rodriguez toldVenezuelan state television.

Castro's precise illness is a state secret but he is thought to besuffering from diverticulitis, a disorder of the large intestine.

Last month, Cuban state television showed Castro for the firsttime in three months. He looked stronger than in the previous video butstill frail.

Castro's illness forced him to relinquish control for the firsttime since his 1959 revolution steered the Caribbean island on asocialist course and made Cuba an enduring ideological foe of theUnited States.

Reuters>