HAVANA, Sept 22: Convalescing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared on state television, looking frail but alert and laughing off speculation he was on his death bed after a long absence from public view.

“Well, here I am ... nobody knows when they will die,” Castro, 81, said during an interview on Friday.The absence of pictures of the veteran revolutionary leader since June 5 had fuelled a flood of rumours of his death. “He is dying, he is dead, he will die the day after tomorrow,” Castro said, summing up the wild speculation over his condition.

Castro underwent intestinal surgery on July 27, 2006, and has not been seen in public since. Just after the operation he “provisionally” handed power to his brother Raul, Cuba’s long-time number two, though Cuban authorities insist the veteran leader is still involved in major issues.

Wearing a track suit in the red, white and blue colours of Cuba, Fidel Castro spoke in a soft, slow voice as he discussed the US economy, global oil prices and the rambling essays he has been writing over the past months.—AFP