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HAVANA. – Cuba yesterday denied reports it had summoned foreign media to a Press conference amid reports that 88-year-old Fidel Castro’s health is deteriorating.
Such Press conferences are always convened by e-mails or cellphone text messages and none have been sent, said an official at the International Press Centre, the Foreign Ministry section that deals with foreign media.
News outlets in Miami, a stronghold of anti-Castro sentiment in the huge Cuban immigrant community, had reported that a news briefing had been called for yesterday. They hinted it was because the leader of Cuba’s revolution and former long-time president had suffered a downturn in his health.
AFP did not receive any notice of a Press briefing from the state-run media centre.
Rumours that Castro’s health is deteriorating are being fuelled by the fact that he has not been seen in public over the past year, although in recent months he has received visiting dignitaries at his home in Havana.
Castro so far has not commented publicly about last month’s bombshell news that communist run Cuba and the United States plan to restore diplomatic relations, ending decades of enmity.
Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with rumours that Fidel has died, although the speculation has emerged close on the heels of the death of another high-profile person with the same name.
Also casting doubt on yesterday’s speculation was the possibility that Twitter users are confused by the name, after Fidel Castro Odinga, the son of prominent Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, died several days ago at the age of 41.
Castro stepped aside from the presidency in 2006 and was replaced by his brother Raul. – AFP/ Daily Mail.
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