Cuban President Fidel Castro is reportedly recovering from surgery and will back to work soon. On Sunday Cuban vice president Carlos Lage said, “In a few weeks he’ll be recovered and he’ll return to his duties.” Last week Castro temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul. Meanwhile the Bush administration has sent a message to the people of Cuba. The statement from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was beamed into Cuba on the U.S.-government run Radio and TV Marti.

• Condoleezza Rice: “The United States respects your aspirations as sovereign citizens and we will stand with you to secure your rights, to speak as you choose, to think as you please, to worship as you wish and to choose your leaders freely and fairly in democratic elections. All Cubans who desire peaceful democratic change can count on the support of the United States.”

Meanwhile the Miami Herald reports the Bush administration is increasing its broadcasts into Cuba.