MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fidel returns to talk where he first stirred fellow students 60 years ago

The fragile Cuban revolution leader’s speech lasted 40 minutes

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, wearing his green military cap and clothing like the commandant of old, made his first speech before the Cuban public since falling ill in 2006, warning of the threat of nuclear war.

He spoke from the same steps of the University of Havana where 60 years ago he stirred fellow students to political action in the beginnings of the revolution that eventually put him in power in 1959.

About 10,000 people, mostly students, filled the steps and nearby streets to listen to the man who led Cuba for 49 years before the illness that forced him to resign the presidency and, Castro said in a recent newspaper interview, nearly killed him.

They shouted “Fidel, Fidel Fidel” and applauded at several points during his nationally-televised address. His speech was the latest in a string of appearances since the 84-year-old Castro re-emerged in July from four years of seclusion.

His renewed public presence has raised questions about whether he could resume a larger role in running the country now officially led by his younger brother, President Raul Castro.

As he has all summer, Castro warned that nuclear war is inevitable if the United States, in alliance with Israel, tries to enforce international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

He slammed the United States, his long-time foe, for creating a “system that threatens the survival of humanity.”

“The problem of people today, the more than 7 billion human beings, is to prevent such a tragedy from happening,” he said.

“In this, as in many struggles in the past, it is possible to be victorious,” he said.

Standing behind a podium at the top of steps, he spoke for about 40 minutes, far shorter than the hours-long speeches he once gave. As has been his custom since resurfacing, he did not talk about Cuba's domestic issues.