Castro breaks knee, arm in fall

Fidel Castro, Cuba's 78-year-old leader, has fractured a knee and an arm after he tripped and fell at the end of a televised public speech. The government confirmed the injuries in a statement, adding: "His general health is good, and spirits excellent."

The tumble came at the end of a speech in Santa Clara, and Mr Castro later appeared to say he was "in one piece".

There is frequent speculation on the island about the health of Mr Castro, who fainted at a rally three years ago.

A medical examination on Thursday confirmed Mr Castro had broken his left knee and suffered a hairline fracture on his upper right arm, the Associated Press quoted the official statement as saying.



'Distressed' audience

Mr Castro was sweating profusely as he sought to reassure his supporters shortly after his fall on Wednesday night.

"Please excuse me for having fallen... just so no-one speculates, I may have a fracture in my knee and maybe one in my arm," he said.

"I can speak even if they put me in plaster and I can continue to work," he added.

The Cuban revolutionary leader said he preferred to leave the city in a jeep rather than an ambulance and urged people to continue their programme of events.

Mr Castro had been speaking at the mausoleum where the remains of fellow revolutionary Che Guevara are kept.

He delivered a one-hour speech to mark a graduation of arts instructors.

When he fell, some of those among the audience of 30,000 broke into tears, a Reuters correspondent reports.

Tin từ BBC News ngày 21/10/2004

Ông nụi này mà đi theo chầu bác Lê, bác Sít-Ra-Ta-Clean thì CS chỉ còn lại 3 nước tàn dư cuối cùng, và dân Cuba theo Tư Bản sẽ đở khổ hơn.

-- Bỏ4 (CSonSale@yahoo.com), October 22, 2004

Answers

Vay la them 1 thang Congsan Sup do roi ...cam on chua' tieu diet bon chung ''

-- Fuck You Chi Bua.... (vietnam congsan nuoi-heo nhieu qua thui' '@yahoo.com), October 22, 2004.

Oh, poor Fidel Castro, well 78 years old stand without cane is brave man . US should send a wheelchair for Castro to show the respect to some guys who threat US in 1963 . US always respected his enemy as usual. Thanks for the news , my boy Bo4.

-- chi-bua (mingo@netscape.net), October 22, 2004.

Cám ơn anh chi-bua đã quan tâm, nhưng nếu Mỹ mà gửi xe lăn tới thì chỉ sợ có hàng triệu các loại vũ khí tự phát nổ, tự hủy diệt siêu nhỏ để make sure ông Fidel có ngồi xuống được mà không có đứng dậy được mà thôi.

-- Jubinell (Jube@Jube.Jube), October 22, 2004.

Đã bảo rồi mà không chịu nghe . Thằng già Fidel Castro lợi dụng nước ta đói khổ nên ép nước ta nhập cảng cháu ngoan bác Hồ để chúng nó sài ,bác Hồ Chết Xình giận quá nên nắm giò nó cho nó té gãy cái "bu- ri" nhờ thằng này theo "tổ Mắc " nên tổ chỉ cho gãy cái chân thôi .

Lão Fidel Castro hú vía .

-- thich du thu (toollovers@comcast.net), October 22, 2004.