The brother of Cuban President Fidel Castro says that - contrary to U.S. media reports - the 80-year-old leader continues to recover from intestinal surgery and "is not dying."
Speaking to a group of students in Havana, Raul Castro denied reports suggesting the president has terminal cancer.
Raul Castro said he and other top officials held a meeting with President Castro in recent days in which the Cuban leader issued instructions.
On Saturday, a Time magazine report quoted anonymous U.S. officials who said they believe the president has cancer and will not return to power. However, the officials also said intelligence reports could be wrong because information about the leader's health is closely guarded.
Details of the Cuban leader's health are a state secret.
The 80-year-old president has not appeared in public since his surgery. However, he has been shown in pictures receiving foreign dignitaries in a private setting. Last week Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said President Castro continues to recover and would soon be back "leading the revolution."
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
