MADRID, Jan 22: A spam e-mail with messages including “Fidel Castro dead” and “Saddam Hussein safe and sound” contains a virus which has infected thousands of computers, Spain’s Association of Internauts said on Monday.

With speculation rife about the Cuban leader’s health, the association said that a computer would be infected by the virus if the recipient opened the message. “The virus is affecting thousands of computers,” the association said.

Other messages sent with the virus include Venezuelan President “Hugo Chavez dead”, “President of Russia Putin dead,” and “US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has kicked German Chancellor Angela Merkel.” Another read: “The (US) Supreme Court has been attacked by terrorists.”—AFP