Guardian Unlimited

A 10-minute video and seven new photographs of Fidel Castro, Cuba's bedridden leader, have been released.

They showed an alert but tired-looking Mr Castro, who was in his bed at a hospital in Havana, with his younger brother, Raul, and the visiting Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez.

The photographs were the second set to appear since July 31, when it was announced that the Cuban leader had undergone surgery to halt intestinal bleeding and that his younger brother had been temporarily handed the presidency.

Mr Castro, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday, was last seen in public on July 26.

The video of him recuperating and meeting Mr Chávez, which was broadcast on the Cubavision channel last night, appeared aimed at dispelling doubts over whether he was still alive.

The first set of photographs, showing him sitting up and wearing a tracksuit top, appeared in the Juventud Rebelde youth newspaper on Sunday, although reporters said few Cubans seemed aware of them.

In Havana yesterday, people flocked to news stands to look at the latest set of pictures, which were published in Granma, the main Communist party newspaper.

In the footage of Mr Chávez's visit on Sunday, Mr Castro clasped the hands of his close friend and political ally. Two dolls, apparently depicting the two leaders, could be seen in the background.

Speaking in Jamaica yesterday, Mr Chávez gave an optimistic report of his friend's health, telling reporters the Cuban leader would "recover sooner than we hoped".

He said Mr Castro - who has ruled for 47 years - had endured "extraordinarily difficult moments" during his illness, but pointed out that he had not needed to see "a single doctor" during their three-hour meeting.

Cuban officials have not released details of Mr Castro's condition or disclosed where he is being treated, and the mystery surrounding his illness has caused concern.

After the first photographs appeared, some anti-Castro bloggers suggested they could have been doctored.

Supporters and opponents had both suggested he may have been in worse condition than the authorities were admitting. However, after seeing the video and photographs, supporters said they were more confident about his chances of survival.

"He's made of iron," Havana resident Felipe Sanchez said. "It looks like the worst has passed, which many of us weren't sure would happen."

Some voiced concern over Mr Castro's appearance. "I was thinking the worst before," 37-year-old Ernesto Fundora, who works at a tobacco factory, said. "Now I don't have any doubt that he's alive. But still, he could go at any minute."

In the video, Mr Castro's voice was inaudible as he talked with his brother and Mr Chávez, but appeared to be enjoying himself.

It has not become any clearer whether he will return to power or whether his brother will assume the president's role permanently.

Many Cuban exiles in Miami, who celebrated news of Mr Castro's ill health last month, have been hoping for an end to his rule.