Castro Not Well Enough to Attend Summit

HAVANA, Cuba Sept. 15, 2006 — -- Fidel Castro is not well enough to attend the summit of the Nonaligned Movement of developing nations, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque has announced.

Roque said that while the most critical point of Castro's illness has passed, his doctors insist that he continue to rest. Fidel has agreed to abide by his doctors wishes.

Instead, Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro will lead the conference.Roque said Fidel has been watching the conference and met with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan last night.

Castro, 80, handed over Cuba's leadership to his 75-year-old brother Raul Castro and a handful of other top government officials after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July.

For two days in a row, Cuban TV released new pictures of a lively Fidel Castro, shown in animated conversation with the Argentine congressman Miguel Bonasso, and hugging and shaking hands with his ally and friend, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Fidel Castro told Bonasso that he felt the "shadow of death" during the first days after his operation to repair intestinal bleeding. Castro was proofing the second edition of the book, "100 Hours," while hospitalized. He told the author that he did some of the editing immediately after surgery because he was worried he might not survive.

Bonasso said the danger has now passed, and Castro appears strong again. According to Bonasso, color has returned to Castro's face, and he has regained half the 41 pounds he lost after surgery. He also said Castro is not in any pain. The Argentine congressman told ABC News that Castro moved around the room during his 90-minute visit, describing his mood as up and vital.

Castro's full diagnosis has not been released (the Cuban government considers it a "state secret"). It has yet to announced when or if he will return to office.