Fidel Castro is recovering well after undergoing surgery on his intestines and could return to work within weeks, Cuba's Vice President said today.

Seven days after the Cuban President relinquished power for the first time in 47 years, temporarily handing his responsibilities to his 75-year-old brother, Raúl, he was said to be up and around and talking.

The official Communist party newspaper, Granma, published a short article comparing Señor Castro, who is 79, to a caguairan, a tropical hardwood tree found in the forests and mountains of eastern Cuba, where he was born.

The tree, which is also known as the "quiebra hacha" or "ax breaker", was described as one of the most valuable, tough and resistant forms of wood: "incorruptible, compact, [and] of extraordinary hardness".

"A few hours ago, a friend who visited El Comandante and was impressed by his recovery, told us ’He is a caguairan!'", the newspaper said.

Although neither Señor Castro nor his brother have been seen since the temporary handover of power was announced on television last Monday, the Vice President of Cuba, Carlos Lage, said that he was on his way back to work.

"In a few weeks he’ll be recovered and he’ll return to his duties," said Señor Lage, who is responsible for managing the Cuban economy and is thought to be a likely member of the collective government that would take over the country if Señor Castro died.

"The operation that he underwent was successful and he is recovering favorably," he added. "Fidel’s going to be around for another 80 years."

Señor Lage was speaking on a visit to Bolivia, whose leftist President, Evo Morales, is a fervent admirer of Señor Castro. The Cuban President's other great advocate in Latin America, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, also gave an update on Señor Castro's condition.

Talking on his weekly television and radio show, Señor Chávez said he had spoken to the Cuban leader and was sure he was watching the programme, in which Señor Chávez met farmers, talked about Venezuela's plans for a missile defence system and discussed socialism with one of the country's leading soapstars.

"How are you, Fidel?" asked Señor Chavez. "We have reliable information of your quick and notable recuperation."

Later, Señor Chavez called President Morales and said: "This morning I learned that he’s very well, that he is already getting out of bed, he’s talking more than he should - because he talks a lot, you know. He has sent us greetings."

Detailed information about Señor Castro's condition and exact illness has been hard to come by because his health is considered a state secret in Cuba. Señor Lage denied speculation that Señor Castro had stomach cancer today. Last week, Señor Castro issued a statement on a political chat show after a day of rumours that he was dead.

President George Bush admitted he had no clear idea about the Cuban leader's health today, but stressed that the future of the country should be decided by the Cuban people, and not Cuban exiles who had fled to live in America.

"As Cuba has the possibility of transforming itself from a tyrannical situation to a different type of society, the Cuban people ought to decide. The people on the island of Cuba ought to decide," Mr Bush told a press conference. "And once the people of Cuba decide to form a government, then Cuban-Americans can take an interest in that country and redress the issues of property confiscation."

Many Cuban exiles still claim property on the island that they lost when Señor Castro took power in 1959.

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