The Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Tuesday appeared on his country's state television for the first time in three months.

The 80-year-old leader, who was shown standing and chatting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Havana, looked stronger than previous images since he underwent an intestinal operation on July 27.

The video footage was taped on Monday during a two-hour private meeting, according to the state television.

Castro temporarily handed over power to his younger brother Raul Castro four days after the surgery in July.

On Jan. 16, the Spanish newspaper El Pais cited two doctors from the Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid as saying that Castro was in a "very grave" condition after three failed operations and complications from an intestinal infection.

The report ignited a lot of speculation over Castro's health.

Though the veteran Cuban leader has not made any public appearances since the surgery, he appeared on several video footages and delivered New Year's greetings to his countrymen on Dec. 30.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)