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Castro Gives First TV Interview Since Illness
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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
Fidel Castro appeared on Cuban TV yesterday - his first interview since falling ill 10 months ago.
(Soundbite of TV Interview)
President FIDEL CASTRO (Cuba): (Spanish spoken)
MONTAGNE: Castro wore a tracksuit embellished with the Cuban flag, and he spoke of his improved health, crediting a more balanced diet.
Photos from just a few months ago showed the 80-year old Cuban leader looking frail and weak. He's recovering from intestinal surgery and an undisclosed illness that's treated as a state secret. During the nearly hour-long interview, Fidel Castro reminisced about a long ago trip to Vietnam, and then in true Castro fashion, read a list of random statistics on Vietnam's social services. What he didn't mention was when or if he'll take back the presidency.
(Soundbite of music)
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