World Health Org. director says Fidel Castro walking, talking at length: looks ‘wonderful’

WHO head says Castro looks stronger, ‘wonderful’

HAVANA — The head of the World Health Organization says Fidel Castro looks stronger and wonderful for his 83 years.

Margaret Chan met with Castro for more than two hours and found him “very dynamic.”

Chan is director-general of the United Nations’ health authority. She also is a physician, but says she is not offering a medical opinion on Castro’s well-being.

Chan and Castro took a walk together. Chan says: “I’m younger than him and I felt tired when he wasn’t.”

Castro has not been seen in public since undergoing a series of emergency intestinal surgeries in July 2006. He has ceded power to his younger brother Raul and is in a secret location, stricken with an undisclosed ailment.

Chan spoke Wednesday at a news conference in Havana.