CARACAS: Cuban leader Fidel Castro has taken back a large part of the reins of government as his health improves eight months after surgery, his ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday.
"Fidel has nearly completely recovered" from the gastrointestinal surgery that sidelined him in July, Chavez told a news conference.
"He has taken back a good part of government functions, but, of course, not formally."
"The information that keeps emerging, his notes, his voice on the telephone, show a marked improvement," Chavez said.
"But I don't want to say more."
Castro, 80, temporarily handed power to his brother and defense chief Raul, 75, on July 31, four days after undergoing surgery.
He has only been seen in videos and pictures since July, but he has published in the last two weeks three articles railing against President George W. Bush, in a sign that he is still closely following current events.
It is the first time that the Communist stalwart has given up the reins of government since his guerrilla revolution toppled the government of dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959.
