HAVANA: Raul Castro, who is temporarily replacing his convalescing brother Fidel as Cuba's president, made his first appearance on Tuesday at the Non-Aligned Movement's summit in Havana and insisted in an interview that his sibling was still giving orders.
Raul Castro was shown on Cuban television meeting with Laos President Choummaly Sayasone. Castro and Sayasone discussed the "excellent development of bilateral relations between Cuba and Laos," said Cuban television.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Telesur, a regional television channel, Raul Castro said his 80-year-old brother was still working hard.
"Don't think that he is laying down in a bed," said Raul Castro, 75. "He is on the telephone giving orders."
Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his brother on July 31 while recovering from intestinal surgery, giving up the reins for the first time since taking the helm in 1959.
The Non-Aligned Movement's six-day summit started Monday. It was unclear if Fidel Castro would appear at the gathering.
The gathering brings together leaders from about 50 developing nations, and high-level representatives from dozens more.
Heads of state and government will meet on Friday and Saturday following two days of talks at the ministerial level.
