Fidel Castro Still Alive, Cuba Releases New Images of Ex-Leader (PHOTOS)

Rumors have swirled over recent months that Fidel Castro is gravely ill and some other reports even went as far as saying that the Cuban leader had died. Now, Cuba is hoping to put these stories to rest with the release of new images of Fidel Castro taken at the end of January.

The images published in Granma, the official news source of the Cuban Communist Party show the former President of Cuba talking with students.

President of the Federation of University Students (FEU ) Jose Antonio Echeverria, of the University of Havana, met with Fidel Castro, 88, on Jan. 22. He wrote about the meeting in Spanish for a government publication.

Echeverria said that the meeting took place on January 22 and that he had an "animated" conversation with Mr Castro lasting more than three hours.

More than 20 photographs show Mr Castro in what appears to be good health.

In the article in Granma, Fidel Castro appears to be supportive of the moves by his brother Raul in opening relations with the United States. Raul Castro made a historic announcement last December that Havana and Washington would end over 50 years of Cold War-era hostility and restore diplomatic ties. Fidel Castro said he did not oppose the recent diplomatic breakthrough.

Castro has not been seen in public for more than a year. Fidel Castro led Cuba for nearly half a century before handing over power to his brother, Raul, in 2006 because of ill health. Since then, he has made infrequent public appearances and statements over the years.