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Castro makes TV appearance from bedAiling Cuban leader shown celebrating 80th birthday with Chavez
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSHAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cubans got their first glimpse Monday of Fidel Castro since he underwent surgery last week, with state-run television broadcasting video of the Cuban leader talking from his bed with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez was on the island Sunday to help Castro celebrate his 80th birthday, the narrator of the program -- "Round Table" -- said. Both men were wearing fire-engine red shirts, with Castro appearing pale but speaking animatedly as Chavez joked with him and showed him photographs. (Watch Chavez comfort and cheer his Cuban counterpart -- 1:05) ) Raul Castro gave Chavez a portrait of the Cuban leader painted in 1959 by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros, The Associated Press reported. "I was trying to paint a picture of you, but I couldn't," Chavez said. "That nose -- you can't paint it." Castro went along with the joke, responding, "I can still get surgery." Raul Castro joined the fun, defending his octogenarian brother. "It's a perfect Greek profile," the 75-year-old told Chavez. Raul Castro has assumed presidential powers temporarily as his brother recuperates from intestinal surgery. After looking through books of photographs, the two men were shown eating a couple of spoonfuls of what appeared to be yogurt. The program's narrators said the two men -- who were shown clasping hands during the visit -- spent more than three hours together Sunday. Photographs and a written message from Castro published Sunday suggested he was recovering. Sunday also marked the first public appearance since the transfer of power for Raul Castro, who was videotaped greeting Chavez at the airport in Havana. "I am feeling great," Fidel Castro wrote in his birthday message published in Sunday's edition of Cuba's official Communist Party newspaper Granma. He said his "stability has improved considerably," but that he is still at risk and his recovery will take a while longer. "To everyone who wished me good health, I promise I will fight for it," Castro said. Four color photos showed Castro wearing a red, white and blue Adidas running suit. In one, he has a thin smile as he rests his chin on his fist. Two others show Castro talking on a phone, while the fourth shows him holding a copy of Granma. "To say that my objective state has improved considerably would not be a lie," the letter says. "To affirm that the recuperation period will be short and that no risk exists would be absolutely incorrect," it added. He urged his countrymen to be optimistic, "but always ready for bad news." He added, "The country marches and will continue marching perfectly well." Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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