Castro son sees father's "total" recovery

HAVANA, Feb 15 (Reuters) The son of ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said today that he expects his father to recover totally from surgery that forced him to relinquish power temporarily in July.

''We believe that little by little comrade Fidel will see the total recovery that all the Cuban people and revolutionaries the world over hope for,'' said Fidel Castro Diaz Balart.

Castro, 80 and in power since 1959, handed over temporarily to his brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, last July 31 when he underwent emergency stomach surgery. He has not appeared in public since.

A video clip released two weeks ago showed Castro has put on weight but remains frail.

Little has been said about Castro's illness but he is thought to have suffered from diverticulitis, or inflamed bulges in the large intestine, and had complications during surgery.

Many observers believe he will not be strong enough to resume a full leadership role.

National Assembly president Ricardo Alarcon said on Tuesday that Fidel Castro is recovering ''very well'' but gave no indication when, or if, the ailing leader might return to public life on the communist-ruled Caribbean island.

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