DHAKA: Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, 88, appeared in public ‘full of vitality’ for the first time in more than a year on Monday, greeting a delegation of Venezuelans.

It was his first known appearance outside his home since Cuba in December agreed to normalize relations with the United States, Castro’s longtime adversary, reports the Jerusalem Post.

Official media showed images of a seated Castro shaking hands with the visiting Venezuelans through the window of his vehicle, wearing a baseball cap and a windbreaker.

There was no explanation why five days passed before the encounter was reported in Cuba.

He met at a school with 33 Venezuelans, who were on a solidarity mission to Cuba, for about 90 minutes. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, oil-rich Venezuela has become Communist Cuba’s closest ally and chief benefactor.

BDST: 1119 HRS, APR 05, 2015
BD/