Spanish Doctor Says Castro Is Cancer Free

A Spanish surgeon who is helping treat Fidel Castro said Tuesday the Cuban leader does not have cancer and is recovering slowly from a serious operation.

"He hasn't got cancer" said Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, chief surgeon at Madrid's Gregorio Maranon Hospital. Garcia Sabrido flew to Havana on Thursday to see Castro and give his opinion on how his treatment was progressing.

"It is not planned that he will undergo another operation for the moment," he said. "His condition is stable. He is recovering from a very serious operation."

He also said that he was amazed at Castro's good spirits. "He wants to return to work everyday," he said.

Castro, 80, has not appeared in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July, but has since released little information on his condition. Castro placed his younger brother, Raul, in charge of the government.

Spanish authorities on Monday confirmed that Garcia Sabrido had traveled to Cuba's capital with advanced medical equipment for Castro and to study a possible surgery. The Madrid's health department has been sending medicines to Cuba since June.

Castro's medical condition is a state secret. Cuban authorities deny he suffers from terminal cancer as U.S. intelligence officials have said, but have nonetheless stopped insisting Castro will return to power.