Fidel Castro, who clashed with every US president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006. He turned over his duties to his brother, five years his junior, then formally ceded power in February. --PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
HAVANA - FIDEL Castro met with three members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday, marking the former Cuban president's first meeting with American officials since he fell ill nearly three years ago.
Coming after lawmakers met with his brother Raul, the current president, the session appeared to underscore the Cuban government's desire for improved relations with the United States under new President Barack Obama.
'CONSTRUCTIVE' MEETING
After the delegation's talks with Raul Castro, Rep Lee said the meeting was constructive and the lawmakers would prepare a detailed look at everyday life in Cuba for the White House.
'We talked about all the issues necessary to normalize relations between our two countries,' she said.
Greg Adams, a spokesman at the US Interests Section in Havana, said Rep Barbara Lee, a California Democrat, and two other lawmakers met with the 82-year-old Castro. He did not have further details, including the names of the other two Americans at the meeting.
Rep Lee led a delegation of six Democratic representatives who left Havana after a five-day visit designed to encourage dialogue between the US and Cuba. The legislators did not speak with journalists about meeting with Fidel Castro, and J. Jioni Palmer, a spokesman for the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, said he had not heard about the session.
Mr Adams said he expected the Cuban government to release more information about the meeting in state television's nightly newscast.
Fidel Castro, who clashed with every US president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006. He turned over his duties to his brother, five years his junior, then formally ceded power in February.
Raul Castro met with the six American legislators for more than four hours on Monday night, his first face-to-face discussions with US leaders since he became Cuba's president - a sign that both countries may be serious about improving nearly 50 years of frigid relations.
The visit to Cuba came as the Obama administration conducts a broad review of its policy toward the communist nation - and as some US lawmakers press for an end to the travel bans that have prevented Americans from visiting the island. -- AP
