GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — President Fidel Castro proclaimed himself in stable condition and good spirits in a statement read on state television Tuesday. But the message also made clear that his health remained precarious after an operation to stem intestinal bleeding.
Neither Castro, soon to turn 80, nor his 75-year-old brother and designated successor, Raul, were seen in public or on television during a day in which speculation was rampant that the bearded revolutionary might be on death's doorstep.
No information has been released on where Castro has been treated or hospitalized or on the details of his operation and prognosis.
But the relatively upbeat statement read during the nightly political affairs program "Round Table" appeared meant to dispel the more dire rumors, circulating mostly among fiercely anti-Castro exiles in Miami, that he had died and the transfer of governing authority to Raul was hastily arranged to buy time to prepare the Cuban public for their first leadership change in nearly half a century.
"I cannot make up positive news," Castro's statement warned, hinting at the gravity of his condition before deeming his health stable. "As for my spirits, I feel perfectly fine."
As he had in a message Monday, Castro alluded to the need for his fellow citizens to be vigilant amid what he deems threats of aggression from the United States and appeared to warn Washington and Cuban dissidents against any attempt to take advantage of the temporary power shift.
"The country is prepared for its defense," he said, urging Cubans to "struggle and work."
In a report read Tuesday on Radio Reloj, Castro was said to have promised "to rule from my bed," a possible indication he might resume the presidential, military, political and governing powers he handed over to his brother and other Communist Party stalwarts Monday. In the statement read on state TV by his personal secretary Tuesday, Castro even deeded responsibility for several key committees he heads to party colleagues to press on with the campaigns for education, healthcare and energy conservation.
The head of Cuba's parliament, National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon, had earlier disputed contentions in exile circles that Castro had died or was about to.
"The imperialists ignore the strength of Fidel Castro," Alarcon said in an interview with the news agency Prensa Latina. Castro will fight fiercely to the end, he said, "but this end is very far away."
