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Prominent Doctor Flown in to Treat Castro

A leftist Spanish newspaper reported that a Spanish surgeon, who is an intestinal specialist, was rushed to Cuba to treat the ailing Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, who was operated on in the summer. Since the operation Castro hasn`t appeared in public, and Cuban officials have refused to give any information on Castro`s medical condition.

The paper, El Periodico de Catalunya, reported Sunday that Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, an intestinal specialist at a Madrid hospital traveled to Cuba with equipment not available in Cuba incase the Cuban leader will require another surgery. The hospital in which Garcia Sabrido works refused to comment. The doctor is expected to conduct a series of tests, in order to check wither or not Castro requires further surgery.

The Cuban leader, who recently turned 80, has ruled Cuba since 1959. He hasn`t made any public appearances since he was hospitalized in August for emergency surgery on his intestines. Prier to his surgery, Castro temporarily passed his authority to his younger brother, Secretary of defense, Raul Castro. Since this operation Castro`s medical condition has been treated as an issue of national security. Some photos were released to official Cuban newspapers as well as some video footage of Castro with his friend Venezuela`s President Hugo Chavez, but no credible information on the medical condition was given. A US intelligence official reported recently that Castro`s death is imminent and different American agencies have begun to prepare for different scenarios that could arise when this indeed happens.