Posted on 08/06/2006 4:50:52 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Cuban authorities have told the Brazilian government that Cuban leader Fidel Castro has a malignant stomach tumor and may be unable to return to full power, a Brazilian newspaper reported on Saturday. Folha de S.Paulo said Brazilian officials had been told that Castro's illness marked the start of an irreversible transfer of power on the Communist-ruled island.
Folha said Cuban authorities informed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and members of the ruling Workers' Party about the malignant stomach tumor this week. His condition was worse than has been publicly admitted, according to Folha.
"It looks like we will lose our friend," it quoted Lula as telling an aide.
It gave no source but the report was written by a respected journalist. Brazilian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Castro, 79, relinquished power temporarily last Monday to his younger brother, Raul, after intestinal surgery. ADVERTISEMENT
Few details of his state of health have emerged, triggering uncertainty about Cuba's future and speculation that his 47-year-old rule over Cuba could be drawing to a close.
Cuban Cabinet ministers have said the Fidel Castro was recovering.
But Folha said the Brazilian authorities had been informed that even if Castro recovered, he might not be able to assume full power again.
Lula had instructed his team to be discreet, it said. He told friends Castro was a strong man who has been a friend in "difficult hours." He hoped for his recovery.
The two men are old friends and the Workers' Party has longstanding ties to Cuba, although Lula has moved the party away from its leftist roots and toward the political center.
Lula has visited Cuba several times, most recently as president in 2003.
Castro's always been malignant.
Die.
bump
Well it is official, he is now a product of his own health care system....death.
Cuba has a tumor.
He is dead
He is not dead
He is dead
He is not dead.
Hope it gets bigger than a casa and explodes.
Sure would be appropriate for ol fidel to succumb to cancer caused by his cigars.
Do tumors hurt? Is he in constant pain?
Hope so.
Dear Mr Castro:
ES&D.
Thanks.
Hopefully he delayed diagnosis and he has a fast growing cancer. He'll keel over in 60 days. What's the dead pool on this maggot??
So who should the U.S. send to the funeral? Ted Kennedy?
Especially if we don't have to take him back!
I think Castro will be gone soon ... as quickly as Peter Jennings. He could get much better treatment here but we boycott Cuba!! Hahahahaha
We need Arnold saying, "It IS a two-ma".
Stomach cancer is very painful. Normally, I feel great sympathy for anyone with such an affliction.
In this case, I'll spare my sympathy for the people of Cuba. Who knows what they may have to endure as that equally worthless brother of his tries to consolidate his power?
Meanwhile- I hope Castro suffers enough to beg for death.
No one but Jimmy Carter.
This is a bit of an unrelated topic, but I was given the boot from being able to post on this site for a few days for making a joke about muslims accidentally killing themselves at the hadj. I was told that I was calling for the death of someone and this was out of bounds even though I did no such thing. Since then I have seen posts that actually did call for someone's death and was curious how this made it on the site. I have asked for a clarification from the people who run free republic but never received a reply.I still seek an answer to this question.
The erratic reporting on this topic is very similar to that on Arafat during his last days.
More likely a brain tumor.
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