卡斯特羅駁斥有關其瀕死傳言

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has written an article in state media disputing claims he is on his death bed. It was posted on the Internet website early Monday, accompanied by several photographs of the 86-year-old former leader, showing him standing outside while leaning on a cane and reading a newspaper from Friday.

On Sunday former Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua said he met with the aging revolutionary icon for five hours.

Jaua said Mr. Castro personally accompanied him back to the Hotel Nacional in Havana after their meeting Saturday. Jaua showed the media photographs of his encounter with the former Cuban leader.

Mr. Castro's last public appearance was in March with visiting Pope Benedict. Last week there was a flurry of rumors that Mr. Castro was seriously ill.

Mr. Castro rose to power after the 1959 revolution. He remains popular to many in Cuba, where previous absences have fueled questions about his health. He temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul, in 2006 while suffering from an intestinal illness, before fully transferring power in 2008.古巴前領導人卡斯特羅在國有媒體上撰寫文章，駁斥有關他即將死亡的說法。這篇文章星期一早上刊登在網站上，同時還刊登了幾張這位86歲前領導人的照片。照片上顯示卡斯特羅拄着柺杖站在戶外，閱讀一份上星期五的報紙。

委內瑞拉前副總統埃利亞斯星期天說，他與這名年邁的革命領袖星期六會晤了5個小時。埃利亞斯說，會晤結束後，卡斯特羅親自陪同他回到了他在哈瓦那下塌的國賓館。埃利亞斯向媒體展示了他和這位古巴前領導人會面的照片。

卡斯特羅最後一次公開露面是今年3月會見到訪的教皇本篤16世。上個星期，有很多傳言說卡斯特羅病入膏肓，生命危在旦夕。

卡斯特羅在1959年古巴革命後執掌了政權，他目前依然受到很多古巴人的喜愛。前一段時間他因未公開露面而引發很多有關他健康的疑問。2006年卡斯特羅因腸胃疾病而暫時將權力交給他的弟弟勞爾.卡斯特羅，並於2008年將權力全部移交給勞爾。