Fidel Castro is recovering from his illness and "could return to work soon," Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said last night.
Mr Perez Roque and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a close friend of Castro who visited the communist leader recently in Cuba, have said repeatedly that Castro is improving after gastrointestinal surgery in July.
Mr Perez Roque said: "We are optimistic because Fidel has won" the fight against his illness. "I can't give an exact date for when he could go back to work. . . . That will happen when he has satisfactorily concluded his recovery period."
The foreign minister did not elaborate, leaving open the question of whether Castro (80) might take a less prominent role while leaving his Raul Castro (75), his brother and defense minister, in charge.
The foreign minister's comments follow a surprise call by Castro to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's radio talk show in the leader's first live comments since his surgery.
Previously, only pre-recorded video images of Castro have been released. Cuba has remained calm in the seven months since the man who ruled the island for 47 years temporarily ceded power to his brother.