Castro writes first editorial since surgery

By Catherine Bremer

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's Fidel Castro on Thursday published his first editorial since his July surgery, signing his name to a scathing article on U.S. biofuel plans in the Communist Party newspaper Granma.

The article -- e-mailed to the media in the early hours of Thursday and later posted on Granma's Web site -- said nothing about Castro's state of health, but signalled that the convalescing leader is following world affairs closely.

It was the latest indication that Castro has no plans to retire from the limelight. Various government officials have said recently he is recovering well enough to soon take a more active role in government.

Castro has yet to reappear in public, however, having only been seen in photographs and video recordings or heard on the radio since his surgery. He has been pictured in track suits or pyjamas rather than his trademark olive green uniform.

Many Cubans heard about Thursday's editorial on state radio or television before seeing a paper copy of Granma.

"Fidel is back in the ring, ready to fight and with the same passion as ever," said a schoolteacher in downtown Havana, declining to give her name.

In the article, Castro said more than 3 billion people in the world were condemned to die prematurely of hunger or thirst from plans by his ideological foe, the United States, to convert foodstuffs like corn into fuel for cars.

"This is not an exaggerated figure, it's more likely cautious," Castro wrote. "I've been meditating quite a bit since President (George W.) Bush's meeting with North American automobile makers."