CUBA/VENEZUELA: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez meets with Cuban president Fidel Castro and tells Venezuelan's the Cuban leader is on the mend

Cuban television released video of Venezuelan leader, President Hugo Chavez, making a visit to a visibly thinner Cuban President Fidel Castro Friday (September 1). Fidel is seen embracing Chavez from the same room he was in two weeks ago when pictures of Chavez's second visit were released. Chavez made the brief surprize stop in Cuba after visiting China, Syria and Angola where he signed cooperation deals he says are aimed at countering U.S. influence. "We all need you to 'keep pushing the sun!'" I bring to you an embrace from millions of people who, like me, admire you and say with you: Until forever, victory, we will win," said Chavez. This was his third visit to the recovering Cuban leader. Returning from his world tour, Chavez received a frenzied reception from thousands of supporters dancing, singing and waving red flags in the streets as he drove through poor Caracas neighborhoods on top of a truck. "Really, he is recuperating and from here we say to Fidel: Go forward comrade! So that you can continue to push the sun with us because the roosters are crowing to a new morning," he told thousands of supporters who turned out to cheer his return. Castro, who turned 80 in late July, underwent surgery for intestinal bleeding and had delegated the presidency, supreme command of the armed forces and leadership of the Communist Party provisionally to his brother Raul, the defense minister and designated successor. Castro, who turned 80 last month, handed over power to his brother, Raul, in late July. Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has helped Cuba resist a U.S. embargo by supplying Castro with 90,000 barrels per day of petroleum.

ITN Source | September 2, 2006

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