HAVANA, April 18 (UPI) -- Venezuela will host a summit of leftist Latin American leaders that was originally to be held in Cuba, ending speculation that Fidel Castro would attend.
Venezuelan officials announced that Boliviarian Alternative for the Americas -- a regional integration project led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- will be held in Venezuela this month, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday.
When scheduled to be held in Cuba, officials throughout the region speculated the ailing Castro would attend the meeting, marking his first public appearance in more than eight months.
In late July, Cuban officials announced Castro was suffering from a gastro-intestinal illness. The 80-year-old leader of the communist island handed over authority to his brother Raul Castro.
