Cuban leader Castro appears on state TV

Cuban leader Fidel Castro made his first public appearance in more than a month, walking steadily, according to a video aired Saturday on Cuban state television.

Castro said in the video that rumors about his death was ridiculous and insulting.

"But it pleases me to send my compatriots and friends this small video," he said.

He added that he was still in recovery. "I am coming along just as planned ... I feel whole."

The video came a day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that the Cuban leader was walking around already, and taking trips at night into the countryside.

Bolivian President Evo Morales also said on Saturday that Castro would return to office in "two or three weeks."

Castro, 80, had intestinal surgery on July 31 and temporarily ceded power to Defense Minister Raul Castro. He met several world leaders on the sidelines of the 14th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held on Sept. 11-16 in the Cuban capital.

Source: Xinhua