Scotius
8/23/2006 1:09:00 PM
On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 21:18:52 +0000, habana vieja <lahabana@vieja.cu>
wrote:
>SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Cuban authorities have told the
>Brazilian government that Cuban leader Fidel Castro has a malignant
>stomach tumor and may be unable to return to full power, a Brazilian
>newspaper reported on Saturday.
>
>Folha de S.Paulo said Brazilian officials had been told that Castro's
>illness marked the start of an irreversible transfer of power on the
>Communist-ruled island.
>
>Folha said Cuban authorities informed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio
>Lula da Silva and members of the ruling Workers' Party about the
>malignant stomach tumor this week. His condition was worse than has
>been publicly admitted, according to Folha.
>
>"It looks like we will lose our friend," it quoted Lula as telling an
>aide.
>
>It gave no source but the report was written by a respected
>journalist. Brazilian officials could not immediately be reached for
>comment.
>
>Castro, 79, relinquished power temporarily last Monday to his younger
>brother, Raul, after intestinal surgery.
>
>Few details of his state of health have emerged, triggering
>uncertainty about Cuba's future and speculation that his 47-year-old
>rule over Cuba could be drawing to a close.
>
>Cuban Cabinet ministers have said the Fidel Castro was recovering.
>
>But Folha said the Brazilian authorities had been informed that even
>if Castro recovered, he might not be able to assume full power again.
>
>Lula had instructed his team to be discreet, it said. He told friends
>Castro was a strong man who has been a friend in "difficult hours." He
>hoped for his recovery.
>
>The two men are old friends and the Workers' Party has longstanding
>ties to Cuba, although Lula has moved the party away from its leftist
>roots and toward the political center.
>
>Lula has visited Cuba several times, most recently as president in
>2003.
Looks like Bush is kind of breaking the promise Kennedy made
to not invade Cuba again, or at least someone is.