New Pics Emerge Of Cuban Ex-Leader Fidel Castro

The first pictures of Fidel Castro for more than five months have been published in Cuba.

The country's main state media outlets published pictures showing the 88-year-old former leader having what appeared to be a lively conversation with university student Randy Perdomo Garcia.

Mr Castro is show sitting while reportedly discussing current events with the head of the main Cuban student union on 23 January.

The photos are the first images of the revolutionary leader since a set of photos came out in August showing him talking with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Perdomo wrote a long article to accompany the pictures, saying he was in the former leader's house for more than three hours after an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of Castro starting his studies at the University of Havana.

He said Mr Castro was keeping abreast of the news and performing daily exercises.

The pair reportedly discussed topics including international politics, astronomy, agriculture and Namibia's donation of animals to Cuba's National Zoo.

The two men also discussed the release of three Cuban intelligence agents as part of the 17 December declaration by Cuba and the US to move to re-establish full diplomatic relations.

The student leader wrote: "I'm about to go but he continues a conversation about new ways of fighting some diseases, including diabetes, with the production of natural foods; about Cuba's relations with Africa, from its contribution to those countries' independence to the end of apartheid and the current contribution of Cuban doctors to the fight against Ebola."

The former president - who seized power in the 1959 Cuban revolution - did not issue a public statement for nearly a month after the announcement that Cuba and the US were aiming to re-establish full diplomatic relations.

His unusually lengthy silence sparked intense speculation about his health.

Mr Castro's public appearances and statements have become increasingly infrequent since he stepped down from duties as president after a serious illness in 2006 and handed over leadership to his younger brother Raul.