After mounting rumors over his health and even his whereabouts, Fidel Castro has made his first government appearance for 4 years. The Cuban president appeared before his parliament to make an appeal to President Barack Obama to prevent a global nuclear war.
Since emergency surgery 4 years ago, Castro has made a number of recent public appearances but hasn't addressed his government. It raises questions about how much of a leadership role he can resume. Castro who turns 84 in a week's time arrived on the arm of a minder, waving and smiling to a cheering crowd.
He topped the podium and delivered a fiery 11-minute speech on his fears over impending global nuclear war that he believes the US can take steps to prevent.
"Barack Obama won't have the capability to start a nuclear war if we can persuade him not to. There are many of us behind the effort to persuade the president of the United States."
