(Reuters) Castro near death: Negroponte

[Eugene]

Castro near death: Negroponte
Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:09am ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro is very ill and close to death,
U.S. Intelligence chief John Negroponte said in an interview published on Friday.

"Everything we see indicates it will not be much longer ... months, not years,"
Negroponte told The Washington Post.

The Cuban leader, 80, has not appeared in public since he underwent emergency
intestinal surgery and temporarily handed over the presidency to his younger brother,
Raul Castro, on July 31.

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A delegation of 10 U.S. lawmakers who favor easing sanctions against Communist-run
Cuba was due to arrive in Havana on Friday for a three-day visit.

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Full article: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-15T070857Z_01_N1517038_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-CASTRO.xml