Chavez visits Castro brothers

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had a private five-hour meeting in Cuba with Fidel Castro.

Cuban state television said Mr Chavez expressed satisfaction at Mr Castro’s “magnificent” health.

He subsequently met with President Raul Castro before leaving Cuba.

Mr Chavez is a close ally of Mr Castro and visited him frequently during the four years he disappeared from public view following emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006.

Yesterday was the first time, however, that Mr Chavez visited since Mr Castro began making a string of public appearances in recent weeks.