Cuban leader meets Chavez's successor

HAVANA - Cuban top leader Raul Castro held talks Friday with visiting Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, who was here to visit ailing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, official media reported Saturday.

Castro and Maduro shared their satisfaction with the rallies held Thursday in Caracas in support of Chavez, according to Granma, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party.

Castro reiterated the Cuban people's solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution and its leader and expressed confidence in the ability of the Venezuelan people and their institutions to meet any challenges, said the paper.

Before arriving in Havana, Maduro said earlier Friday in Caracas that the purpose of his trip was to visit Chavez and report to him on the progress of the Venezuelan government in his absence.

Chavez, 58, underwent a fourth operation on Dec 11, but then contracted a lung infection that has complicated his recovery.

He was re-elected in October last year to another six-year term, but was too ill to attend the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Thursday.

Maduro was chosen by Chavez as his successor in case he could not finish his new term of office.

Also on Friday, Castro held talks with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who landed in Havana on Friday to show support for Chavez.

Upon her arrival, Fernandez said she would meet Chavez and his family members here before her Asia trip to the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Vietnam.