Fidel says illness almost killed him

Fidel Castro

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/140751.html

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has spoken of his illness, which forced him to leave power, for the first time, saying he "was at death's door."

"Several times I asked myself if doctors were going to let me live in those conditions or if they'd let me die,'' he told Mexico's La Jornada newspaper during a five-hour interview published on Monday, The Miami Herald reported.

"I want to tell you that you are looking at someone who has come back from the dead," he said in the interview.

The 84-year-old former president, however, stopped short of identifying the illness.

"This morning I succeeded in walking 600 steps alone, without a cane, without help," he said.

Castro went on to say that his weight fell to 66 kg (145 lb) at the lowest point, adding that he weighed almost 86 kg (190 lb) at the time being.

"Stretched out on that [hospital] bed, I could only look around me, ignorant about those medical devices. I didn't know how long that torment would last and the only thing I hoped for was for the world to stop,'' he added.

Castro officially stepped down in February 2008, and Cuba's National Assembly elected his brother Raul Castro as the new president.

Castro returned to public life on July 7, 2010 after four years of convalescence from illness.

According to the article appeared in the Mexican paper, the former leader "devours" books and reads up to 300 news articles per day.

Israel wants Turkish PM out of office

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=131136§ionid=351020204



An Israeli minister has called for the removal of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has condemned the deadly Israeli attack on an aid flotilla, from office.

"The Turkish people aren't the enemy, but Erdogan is Israel's enemy," Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov was quoted by the Israeli daily, Ha'aretz as saying on Saturday.

"This isn't a healthy situation, and unless he leaves office there is no room for optimism," he added.

The remarks come as relations between Israel and Turkey hit a new low following Tel Aviv's military attack on the Turkish-backed Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, killing at least 20 human rights activists.

The relief mission had set sail to break Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip.

The Turkish Prosecutor's office in Istanbul has started an investigation in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considered the main suspect behind the assault.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff of the Israeli military Gabi Ashkenazi are also reported to be investigated.

Erdogan recently repeated his condemnation of the aggression. "We have not remained silent against this piracy and injustice, and we will not do so, and we will seek solutions within the framework of international law," he said.

Erdogan added that the Israeli "government" was Turkey's "problem."

Tel Aviv has so far refused to offer either apology or compensation for the deadly attack or its actions in its aftermath.

It has also defied a demand by the United Nations for an international probe, insisting it would run its own inquiry into the attack.

Ankara has, meanwhile, introduced a roadmap to "completely" cut all bilateral ties -- worth billions of dollars, Turkish paper Today's Zaman reported.