Fidel Castro appeared tired but alert in a video showing him with his younger brother and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The video, shown yesterday on state-run television, appeared aimed at dispelling doubts that Mr Castro was still alive after surgery for intestinal bleeding. It is the first footage of the Cuban leader since he stepped aside as president two weeks ago.
Mr Chavez gave an optimistic report of the leader's health after travelling to Jamaica, where he told reporters that Mr Castro "will recover sooner than we hoped".
He said the long-time Cuban leader has endured "extraordinarily difficult moments" during this illness but pointed out that he didn't even need "a single doctor" during their three-hour meeting.
Mr Castro had not been seen publicly since July 26th, and Cuban officials haven't released details of his condition or disclosed where he's being treated. The mystery surrounding his illness has worried some Cubans that he might be worse off than authorities were telling them.
But with the video and two days of fresh photographs published in state-run newspapers, Mr Castro's supporters said they felt more confident about his chance of survival.
In the video, Mr Castro's voice was inaudible as he bantered with his brother and Mr Chavez, clearly enjoying himself. He was later shown in animated conversation with Mr Chavez, but music played over his words.