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Castro says he is still involved in key decisions

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 31, 2006

In a statement attributed to Fidel Castro, the ailing Cuban leader told Cubans on Saturday that his recuperation from serious illness is "far from being a lost battle" and said he remains involved in matters of "vital importance" to the nation. In a brief statement read by an announcer Saturday evening on Cuban state radio, Castro thanked Cubans for their "support and affection" and offered his best wishes to them on the eve of the 48th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban revolution. Castro had been widely expected to deliver a year-end message even as he continues to convalesce since undergoing intestinal surgery and temporarily ceding power in late July. He has not appeared in public in five months.

Al-Qaida's No. 2 faults Arab leaders

The deputy leader of al-Qaida accused moderate Arab leaders of being traitors for cooperating with the United States and its allies in a taped message posted on militant Web sites Saturday. Ayman al-Zawahri lashed out at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement, saying "they cannot be brothers to the Muslims." Abbas has urged his rival, the ruling Islamic Hamas group, to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Zawahri also denounced other Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a U.S. ally.

Church official denies crackdown

A senior official in China's state-sanctioned Catholic church on Saturday denied his association was cracking down on churches loyal to the Vatican following an unconfirmed media report that nine priests were arrested last week. AsiaNews, a missionary news service close to the Vatican, reported Friday that nine priests from the underground Catholic church in north China's Hebei province were arrested by police Wednesday as they gathered to pray near Baoding. Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the government-backed Catholic Patriotic Association, said he had heard of no such arrests.

Muslims perform symbolic stoning

Huge crowds of Muslims hurled pebbles at stone walls representing the devil in a purging ritual of the hajj pilgrimage Saturday, with many expressing joy at the news of Saddam Hussein's execution in Iraq. Nearly 3-million pilgrims from around the world attended the hajj.

[Last modified December 31, 2006, 00:34:52]