President Hugo Chavez said his friend and political ally Fidel Castro is «in charge» again nearly nine months after undergoing intestinal surgery. The Cuban leader has not been seen in public since before July 31, when he announced he had undergone surgery and provisionally ceded power to his younger brother Raul. With Cuban officials giving increasing positive reports about Fidel Castro's health, there has been speculation recently that he could soon be back in the public eye. «Fidel is in charge. Fidel is in charge,» Chavez said Sunday, revealing that he received a «philosophical letter» from Castro the day before and that it ran to nearly 10 pages. Speaking during a meeting of leftist leaders, Chavez laughed as he said that Bolivian President Evo Morales «is determined that Fidel will come out on May 1.» «I think that Evo and Fidel have such a secret plan that even I don't know what it is. I don't dare to make comments,» Chavez was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Since his surgery, Chavez has regularly offered updates on Castro's health, while the 80-year-old leader has appeared periodically in photographs and videos released by the Cuban government.
