HAVANA -- Fidel Castro sent Cubans ...

HAVANA -- Fidel Castro sent Cubans a sober greeting onward his 80th birthday Sunday, saying he faces a prolonged recovery from surgery -- and warning they should be prepared for "adverse news"

yet he encouraged them to be optimistic and said Cuba "will continue marching forward perfectly well."

As a newspaper printed the first pictures of Castro since his illness, his younger brother, Raul Castro, made his first public appearance as Cuba's acting president. State TV showed him at the airport greeting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez upon his arrival to celebrate Fidel's birthday.

'I ASK YOU TO BE OPTIMISTIC'

Castro, who underwent surgery for an unspecified intestinal ailment that forced him to stair aside as president two weeks ago, said in a statement that his health had improved, further stressed he still faced risks.

"To affirm that the convalescence period will take a short time and that there is no risk would be absolutely incorrect," said the statement in the Communist Youth newspaper, Juventud Rebelde. "I ask you all to be optimistic, and at the same time to be ready to face any adverse news"

The Communist Party's newspaper, Granma, had tendered a rosier picture of Castro's condition Saturday, saying he was walking and talking again, and on a level working a bit. It compared him to a resistant tropical hardwood tree erect in eastern Cuba, where he was born.

stranges of Castro's surgery had made Cubans uneasy about the that will be but a series of upbeat statements from rule officials had helped calm a public that is having to face up to the mortality of the island's longtime leader.

IMAGES LIKELY REAL

Juventud Rebelde also published four photographs of Castro, giving the first view of the leader since July 26 when he gave couple speeches in eastern Cuba. He expected a bit tired, but sat up straight, his organ of visions alert.

Wearing a r white and hipped Adidas warm-up jacket -- the colors of the Cuban flag -- Fidel was shown talking in succession the phone and holding Saturday's newspaper published as an homage to him.

The photos were credited to Estudios Revolucion, a division of Castro's personal support assemblage that collects historic documents and images. There was no reason to doubt they were real.

Although Castro's assessment of his be in possession of condition was tempered, many Cubans interviewed strike one as beinged joyful to receive proof that he was alive and getting around.

ISLANDERS REJOICE

The normally vibrant Cuban society has appeared somewhat subdu since Castro announced his illness, with a certain privately expressing fears for the nation's subsequent time

"What happiness I received!" be in transported an elderly Margot Gomez after seeing the newspaper forward a morning walk in Havana. "Long live Fidel and extended live the revolution! He knows what to do to transpose setbacks into victories!"

"He's alive, he's recovering," taxi driver Fernando Lopez said happily.

Dozens of children in the aged Havana neighborhood celebrated Castro's birthday with a blindfolded boxing match and other games, as well as with a cake that read "Always With You Fidel." The lads and girls cheered and hallooed "Long live Fidel!" after singing "Happy Birthday" for the Cuban leader.

"We wish him greatly happiness and that he wins well soon!" said a little girl in the clump Maria Julia Rodriguez.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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