CUBA:FORMER CUBAN president Fidel Castro's appearance in a televised video on Tuesday night put to rest the latest rumours of his imminent demise and suggested he still plays a significant role in the country's government.
The ex-president (81) looked vigorous as he chatted with his close ally, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and his brother, Cuban president Raul Castro, in the first public images of the ailing former leader since mid-January.
The man who took power in a 1959 revolution and led Cuba for 49 years has not been seen in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006, but has surfaced sporadically in videos and photographs.
Even though he writes occasional newspaper columns and the government has said he remains involved in policy-making, Fidel Castro's five-month absence from public view had fed speculation that his health problems, of which little has been disclosed, were worsening and the end was near.
Most were surprised at a thin but animated Castro shown in the mostly soundless video gesturing, sitting, standing and talking with his two fellow socialists about topics said by state media to range from the global food crisis to the US presidential election.
"He continues being our commander. I saw him as animated, with mobility in his arms and good appearance, but thinner than other times," said restaurant worker Eva Cardenas.
The former president's appearance was a source of joy for followers. Alberto Mendice Sotolongo, a university worker buying the Communist Party newspaper Granma from a Havana vendor, said Mr Castro's appearance invigorated his followers and sent a powerful message.
"His image has had a great impact. It's a great joy for we revolutionaries to show the entire world that we still have our commander-in-chief forever," he said.
Cuba experts also expressed surprise at his fitness, and said the video showed Castro continues to play a key role even though he resigned as president in February.
His brother Raul Castro (77) had ruled provisionally since his brothers 2006 surgery and has ushered in a number of changes aimed at improving Cuba's economy and addressing grievances of average Cubans.
Dan Erikson at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, said the video was meant to signal not only that Fidel Castro is "still around and alive" but that the Castros and Mr Chavez remain close allies.
"This image is intended to show there is a united front between the Castro brothers and their Venezuelan ally, and put to rest any suspicions that Raul's relations with either Fidel or Hugo Chavez are anything but exemplary."
Phil Peters at the Lexington Institute in Virginia said the video was aired "when there were rumours once again in Miami that Fidel was nearing his end".
Miami is the stronghold of the large Cuban exile community.
Mr Peters also pointed out there was nothing to prove the video was shot on Tuesday as the government said.
What Fidel Castro's continued presence means for Cuba's future and Raul Castro's push for economic reforms is open to debate due to the murkiness of Cuban politics, he said.
"Given what we know about . . . Raul and Fidel, it's safe to assume Fidel would be a brake on economic reforms," Mr Peters said. But, he added, since taking control Raul Castro has made significant changes, particularly in agriculture management, and may have done them with his brothers agreement. "I don't know of anybody who knows for sure, and anybody who knows isn't saying," Mr Peters said.