He'll be back, says Castro envoy

Fidel Castro will return to work “sooner rather than later”, Cuba’s ambassador in Bolivia says.

“His health is improving,” Robert Gausa said at a graduation ceremony of an adult literacy programme in Sucre. “He’s recovering. He’ll be back sooner rather than later. You’re going to see more Fidel for a while.”

Castro announced in a statement on July 31 that he had undergone surgery for intestinal bleeding and was temporarily handing over power to his brother, defence minister Raul Castro.

There has since been little concrete information on Fidel Castro’s condition. But optimistic assessments have emerged in a flurry of statements by the leader’s inner circle and Latin American allies.

Cubans were told most details of his health would be kept ”a state secret” to prevent the island’s enemies from taking advantage of his condition. Neither Fidel nor Raul has been seen in public since before the July 31 announcement.