Fidel Castro makes a live call to his ally Hugo Chavez

Oct 14, 2007, 17:49 GMT

Havana - Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro talked Sunday with his main ally and friend Hugo Chavez during the 'Alo presidente' programme which the Venezuelan president aired from the central Cuban town of Santa Clara.

'Here I am', said a laughing Castro at the beginning of the conversation, which marks the first time in more than a year the Cubans have been able to hear live the voice of their leader.

Castro has not been seen in public since July 26, 2006. Five days later, he announced 'temporary' delegation of powers to his brother Raul in order to recover from an ailment that has never been revealed.

Castro and Chavez joked for some minutes, during a phone call that was made immediately after the transmission of a short video on the four-hour meeting both leaders celebrated on Saturday.

In the video Castro, 81 and 'temporarily' retired from power for the past 14 months, appeared dressed in the tracksuit of the national Cuban sports team - his 'uniform' all through his convalescence.

Though still very thin, he looked quite recovered and talked more clearly than in previous videos, the last one, a hour-long interview, aired less than a month ago.

Chavez had announced the video at the beginning of his weekly 'Alo presidente' show which he was making from the Memorial to Ernesto Che Guevara in the central Cuban town of Santa Clara.

'Fidel, how are you?', said Chavez in English, a greeting he often uses with his friend and ally.

'Good morning, I am sure you are watching us', added Chavez, who also announced the possibility of a 'surprise', a live phone connection with the Cuban leader.

'Fidel has a telephone with worldwide range. If he picks up the phone, he can talk to Bush,' joked the Venezuelan president. 'Maybe he has that telephone there and it could be a surprise with Fidel's phone'.

Neither during the video nor during the phone call did Castro say anything about his health or his political plans for the future.

Apart from some pictures and videos, as well as two television interviews, Fidel Castro has been publishing in the past months numerous 'reflections' - press articles in which he gives his opinion about international affairs.

But in none of them has he ever revealed his intentions regarding his future political role.