October 21, 2004 - 3:15 PM

Castro fractures knee in fall

By Marc Frank

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro has fractured his left knee and has a fissure in his right
arm after a fall captured on live television, the government says.

Castro, 78, tripped and fell on Wednesday night as he returned to his seat after speaking for an hour at a
graduation ceremony in central Cuba.

"His general health is good, and spirits excellent," a brief government statement said on Thursday.

Castro's dramatic tumble during a live television broadcast was certain to provoke new questions about how
long he can remain at Cuba's helm. The Latin American leftist icon has had trouble walking of late.

"He asked that it be made known he is in condition to continue attending to fundamental questions in close
cooperation with government and party leaders," the statement said.

Castro has led the Western Hemisphere's only Communist country since he came to power in a 1959
revolution,

In June 2001, Castro fainted briefly during a speech under a scorching sun. Since then questions about his
health have cast uncertainty over Cuba's political future.

After the 2001 incident, Castro confirmed that he views his younger brother, Raul, head of Cuba's armed
forces and number two in the political hierarchy, as his successor.

Castro was picked up by bodyguards and placed in a chair after his fall Wednesday at the graduation
ceremony for art instructors in Santa Clara, held in front of the mausoleum that holds the remains of fellow
revolutionary Che Guevara.

The Cuban president asked for a microphone and told the crowd of about 30,000 people, some of whom
broke into tears when he fell, that there was no cause for alarm.

"Dear graduates and other guests, I ask your forgiveness for having fallen. To prevent speculation, I observe I
have a fracture in the knee and maybe in an arm too, I'm not sure yet" he said.