Fidel Castro tells Cubans not to worry

HAVANA, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said his country should not be concerned by his ongoing illness and eventual death.

Though Cuban President Raul Castro denied rumors his brother's death was imminent, Fidel said in an essay published on the Cuban government Web site www.cubadebate.cu Thursday that he did not expect to survive U.S. President Barack Obama's entire four-year tenure.

Fidel has not been seen in public since his July 2006 announcement that he was having intestinal surgery for an undisclosed illness.

He has however appeared in photos several times with regional leaders, the latest during a meeting with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner earlier this week.