HAVANA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Cuba's Communist daily Monday published photographs of Fidel Castro in his hospital bed being visited by his brother and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The official Granma newspaper said the leaders visited Castro Sunday -- his 80th birthday.
Castro announced two weeks ago he had undergone intestinal surgery and was temporarily relinquishing power to his brother, Raul Cuba's defense minister and No. 2 in the government.
U.S. specialists said Castro's symptoms could indicate cancer or other life-threatening illnesses, The Miami Herald reported.
Castro and his visitors "spent more than three hours" sharing "the joy of a close friendship," Granma said.
Venezuela's state news service ABN reported Chavez gave Castro a dagger and a coffee cup that had belonged to South American independence fighter Simon Bolivar.
Also on Sunday, Cuba urged Cubans to "be optimistic" about Castro's recovery, but said any recovery would take quite some time and Cubans should prepare themselves "to confront any adverse news."
