Havana, Cuba -- Wearing his signature olive green fatigues, former Cuban President Fidel Castro made his first institutional appearance in four years Saturday, addressing a special session of the communist nation's National Assembly.
Castro had kept out of sight while he recuperated from a life-threatening intestinal illness that required several surgeries and sparked rumors that he was close to death.
Those in the chamber, including his brother and current President Raul Castro, gave the aging revolutionary leader a loud round of applause as he walked in. Even the international media was allowed to listen in as Castro spoke about the dangers of nuclear war, exhorting U.S. President Barack Obama not to fire the first shot in a confrontation.
Castro appeared old but healthy Saturday.
He had temporarily ceded power to Raul Castro in July 2006 and resigned as president in February 2008. He wrote a column called "Reflections" while recuperating and sometimes would be seen in photos when a foreign dignitary like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would visit.
But that was all. He was mostly out of sight, if not forgotten. CNN
