Posted on 08/11/2006 8:13:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The stomach condition of Cuban leader Fidel Castro is a classified secret, but his close ally Hugo Chavez openly suggests the communist try a dose of his own medicine for his intestinal woes.
The Venezuelan president is known to offer graphic details on live television of his digestive troubles -- and how Fidel has helped cure them.
During a broadcast on Friday to inaugurate new health clinics partly staffed by Cuban doctors, Chavez described the recipe for Fidel's home-grown stomach cure-all known as "tsunami."
"Fidel has a formula for stomach problems and gases and heartburn -- the tsunami," Chavez said. "Fifty percent oatmeal, 25 percent whole rye flour, and the other 25 percent whole wheat flour. You mix all that and it's a marvel because it's pure fiber and it cleans the stomach, all the digestive paths."
In previous broadcasts, Chavez said the 'tsunami' had cured his stomach problems while visiting a summit of the Mercosur trade bloc in Argentina.
Chavez, an increasingly influential force in Latin America's resurgent left, maintains an open confrontation with the United States while helping Cuba skirt an embargo imposed by Washington more than four decades ago.
Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has used the nation's oil wealth to promote Chavez' vision of a United Latin America and halt the advance of U.S. free trade accords.
Latin America has kept a close eye on Chavez for news of Fidel, who for over 40 year has antagonized the United States while inspiring an entire generation of Latin leftists.
But Chavez has offered few advances on the state of Castro's health.
"I'm sure that every day that goes by, every day you wake up you continue to re-establish your health," Chavez said on Friday. "From here, all of our thanks to you, comrade."
Chavez said on Thursday he had exchanged hand-written letters with Castro, and on Sunday showed a birthday letter that he received from Castro while visiting Qatar.
They forgot to mention the embalming fluid.
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