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Fidel Castro 'in good shape'

One of Fidel Castro's sons has said his father is in good shape despite a long public silence that has again fuelled speculation about the 86-year-old former Cuban president's health.

A journalist for the state-run newspaper Venceremos quoted Alex Castro as saying "the comandante" is going about daily life as normal, reading and exercising.

Arlin Alberty Loforte posted the quote on her blog from the eastern city of Guantanamo, where she met Alex Castro the previous evening at an exhibit of his photographs of the retired leader.

Rumours of Fidel Castro's purportedly declining health surfaced anew this week after he did not publicly congratulate Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on his re-election.

He has not been seen in public since late March.