Cuban leader Fidel Castro looked healthier in a taped television interview on Friday.

These are the first images of the Cuban leader released in more than three months since his last appearance on Cuban television on June 5.

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TV grab from Cuban TV of Cuban President Fidel Castro, in Havana. Castro appeared Friday in a taped television interview, the first images of him since June 5. 

Television officials said the one-hour interview of Castro with "Informative Round Table" was recorded earlier in the day.

Appearing on television, a seated Castro looked thinner and still fragile, but alert and thought clearly.

Speculations on Castro's health were awash since he handed power to Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister, in July 2006 when he underwent surgeries for intestinal bleeding.

He has not been seen in public since then, but has written regularly in the country's official newspapers on current affairs.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is visiting Brazil on energy partnership, said on Friday that Castro was in good health although he has underwent a blood transfusion and three delicate surgeries.

"What problem does Fidel Castro have? Well, one operation, two operations, three operations, 81 years... He almost died. They changed almost all his blood," Chavez said.

"He is writing. He looks like a journalist," Chavez said, adding that he had talks with Castro about three weeks ago, and the 81-year-old leader made a joke in the conversation, saying he "missed" his illness which allowed him time to write and watch TV.

Chavez said he also tried to encourage Castro to take over his positions in the Cuban government again.

Chavez, Castro's close friend, often criticized news reports which speculated on Castro's health.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2007)