(26 May 2007)
1. People buying newspapers
2. Vendor selling papers
3. Various, men reading newspapers
4. Woman sweeping in Old Havana
5. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish), Coralia Bauta, Old Havana street cleaner:
"He spends his entire life thinking about us, and writing to the people, and helping everybody. He has always helped us. We want him to get well; that's what we want."
6. Street scene, with bus
7. Man reading newspaper
8. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish), Luis Suarez, Havana resident:
"We feel good. As long as he continues to write in the newspaper, we feel good. We would like to see him again. The moment will come when we will see him again."
9. Pan, newspaper headlines: (Spanish) "Bush expects it all with one super bombing"
10. Close up of Castro's name at bottom of editorial
STORYLINE
Cuba's president, Fidel Castro, lashed out at US President George W. Bush on Friday, hours after the American leader approved legislation paying for military operations in Iraq without setting a timetable for troop withdrawal.
As he convalesces from intestinal surgery, the 80-year-old Cuban leader accused Bush of waging a war that has caused conditions in the region to deteriorate.
The comments were carried on the front page of local newspapers on Saturday, and prompted loyal reaction on the streets of Havana.
"Just yesterday, Bush bragged about having won the battle over his adversaries in Congress," Castro wrote in a four-page statement. "He has 100 (b) billion US dollars, all the money he needs to double, however he wishes, the American troops sent to Iraq and continue the slaughter."
Bush said on Friday that the measures would provide a roadmap to help the Iraqis secure their country and strengthen their young democracy, whilst leaving operational decisions to commanders in the field.
It has been 10 months since Castro has been seen in public, although Cubans continue about their daily business and all seems calm with no obvious governmental changes.
"He spends his entire life thinking about us and writing to the people and helping everybody. He has always helped us. We want him to get well; that's what we want", said Coralia Bauta, a street sweeper in Old Havana when she heard that Castro had written another article in the newspaper.
"As long as he continues to write in the newspaper, we feel good," commented Luis Suarez, a Havana resident who expects a full recovery for Castro and a return to power.
Castro's latest statement was the 12th in recent weeks, using the forum to comment on a number of subjects that included an attack on US-backed plans to use food crops for biofuels.
On Wednesday, Castro provided key details about his health and recovery, divulging he underwent not one but several surgical operations, the first of which did not go well and has slowed his recuperation.
Castro surprised Cuba and the world in late July 2006, when he announced he was seriously ill and was temporarily stepping aside in favour of a provisional government headed by his brother Raul, the 75-year-old defence minister.
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