MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fidel's health is better, Raul Castro says

Gen. Raul Castro, the younger brother of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said in an interview published Friday by the official daily Granma that the latter is feeling better after undergoing risky surgery and expressed thanks for the numerous messages of solidarity and support that had been received.

Fidel Castro underwent an operation to stop intestinal bleeding on July 31, just days before his 80th birthday. On that same date, he handed over power provisionally to his younger brother Raul, the long-time defense minister and regime's No. 2 man.

The 75-year-old interim leader congratulated and expressed thanks "on behalf of all the people" to the doctors and other medical personnel, saying they had attended to Fidel in an "excellent manner" and carried out their duties "with unsurpassed professionalism and above all with much love and dedication." "This has been a very important factor is Fidel's progressive recovery," he said.

"Moreover, I think that his exceptional physical and mental nature has also been essential to his satisfactory and gradual recovery." Breaking the silence he had maintained since taking over as interim leader, Raul Castro said there was "absolute tranquility" on the island and praised the "calm, disciplined and decisive" attitude of the Cuban people.

He also criticized U.S. policy toward the Communist-ruled island and a recent Bush-approved plan for a democratic transition there, adding that Washington has "openly stated that it includes a secret appendix that is not being published 'for reasons of national security.'" "The United States government is not revealing the contents of that appendix because it is illegal. Its publication must be demanded, above all now that they have spoken about its existence in order to threaten Cuba," Raul Castro said.

"On the contrary, our defensive plans are transparent and legal, simply because they do not threaten anybody; their sole objective is to guarantee the sovereignty and independence of the homeland. They do not violate any national or international law whatsoever." "At this juncture, (the United States) should be very clear that it is not possible to achieve anything in Cuba with impositions and threats," the provisional leader said.

"On the contrary, we have always been disposed to normalize relations on an equal plane. What we do not accept is the arrogant and interventionist policy frequently assumed by the current administration of that country." The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 1961, but established interests sections in each other's capitals in 1977 to handle consular matters.

Raul Castro said Cuba cannot rule out the possibility of "somebody going crazy, or even crazier, within the U.S. government" and therefore "I decided to substantially raise our combative capacity and readiness" hours after the announcement of the transfer of power.

"Tens of thousands" of reservists and militia members were mobilized and alerts were sent out to units of regular soldiers, including special troops, "of missions demanded by the political/military situation that has been created." The unprecedented provisional handing over of power from Fidel Castro, who has ruled Cuba since 1959, to his younger brother sparked all types of rumors and speculation - especially among the staunchly anti-Castro Cuban-American community in Miami - about the iconic leader's health and the country's future.

Questions were also raised about what steps would be taken by Raul Castro, who is being assisted by six other trustworthy top officials.