Castro hurts knee in fall after speach
SANTA CLARA, Cuba - Cuban President Fidel Castro, 78, injured a knee and possibly an arm on Wednesday when he fell while descending a flight of steps after making a one-hour speech.
Castro was picked up by bodyguards who helped him into a chair after the fall at a graduation ceremony in Santa Clara in central Cuba, Reuters correspondent Anthony Boadle said.
The Cuban president asked for a microphone and told the audience, some of whom broke into tears when he fell, that there was no cause for alarm.
"Dear graduates, I ask your forgiveness for having fallen. To prevent speculation, I have a fracture in the knee and maybe in an arm too," he said.
"I can speak even if they put me in plaster and I can continue working."
Castro stumbled on the steps as he returned to his seat after making the speech at the ceremony at the mausoleum where the remains of fellow-revolutionary Che Guevara are kept.
About 30,000 people attended the graduation ceremony for art instructors.
Castro was driven away from the event in a Mercedes Benz.
Castro was picked up by bodyguards who helped him into a chair after the fall at a graduation ceremony in Santa Clara in central Cuba, Reuters correspondent Anthony Boadle said.
The Cuban president asked for a microphone and told the audience, some of whom broke into tears when he fell, that there was no cause for alarm.
"Dear graduates, I ask your forgiveness for having fallen. To prevent speculation, I have a fracture in the knee and maybe in an arm too," he said.
"I can speak even if they put me in plaster and I can continue working."
Castro stumbled on the steps as he returned to his seat after making the speech at the ceremony at the mausoleum where the remains of fellow-revolutionary Che Guevara are kept.
About 30,000 people attended the graduation ceremony for art instructors.
Castro was driven away from the event in a Mercedes Benz.
