CUBA: A recovering Fidel Castro meets with ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro received a visit at his bedside from his main ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said on Monday, publishing pictures of the two men. The official Granma newspaper published the six photos on its online and regular editions, one day after the Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde published the first images of Castro seen since two weeks ago when the leader - who turned 80 Sunday - had announced he had undergone intestinal surgery. In all the most recent pictures, Castro is in bed, wearing what looks like a red sweat shirt. In a seventh photo, Raul Castro is shown embracing Chavez when he arrived at Havana's airport Sunday afternoon. The headline of the newsarticle proclaimed that Fidel was "as strong as a tree", comparing him to the strong wood of the native caguarian tree. News that their leader had appeared in photographs and was on the mend came as a relief to many Cubans worried his death could create upheaval in one of the world's last communist outposts. "The man has recovered, recovered and as this says, the wood of the caguarian (native tropical tree), every day much stronger, and what is more his country supports him," said one Cuban, Raul. The newspaper quoting Chavez as saying, "This is the best visit I've ever had in my life." Expressing surprise at Fidel's recovery, Chavez reportedly commented: "What kind of human being is this? What material is it made of? The lead photo shows Chavez and Raul Castro smiling and standing next to the bed of a smiling Fidel and alongside a large portrait of the Cuban leader on an easel. The newspaper said Raul Castro gave Chavez the portrait, which formerly hung in his office and was painted in 1959 by famed Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Venezuela's state news service ABN reported that Chavez also gave Fidel a dagger and a coffee cup that had belonged to South American independence fighter Simon Bolivar. Also present in what appears to be a hospital room is Castro's younger brother Raul, who made his first public appearance on Monday as acting president of Cuba when he greeted Chavez at Havana airport. For the first time in his 47-year rule, Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother on July 31. The images indicate a real affection between Chavez and Fidel, with them smiling at each other, clasping hands and in one drinking what looks like a milkshake. "New strength, new strength. The visit (of Chavez) to Fidel has given him strength, more strength and stimulates his recovery," one Cuban, Adrian, said in reaction to seeing the published photos. There are no new details on Castro's condition, which he said in a birthday message on Sunday was stable but not beyond risk to his life. As with the newest photos in Granma, the ones in Juventud Rebelde were credited to Estudios Revolucion, a division of Castro's personal support group that collects historic documents and images. Both series of photos seemed designed to prove that he was recovering from his surgery. On the Net: Granma: Juventud Rebelde: http://www.juventudrebelde.cu

ITN Source | August 15, 2006

Tags:. .prove. .youth. .reaction. .documents. .beyond