Castro a no-show at opening party

November 29, 2006

The message was read to a crowd of thousands, which included the Bolivian President Evo Morales, Rene Preval of Haiti and President-elect Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Castro's top ally and equally fierce critic of the United States, is not expected to make the event because he faces a national election on Sunday. Castro has not appeared in public since he underwent intestinal surgery in late July.