Castro Appears in Public for 1st Time Since Falling

Cheered by hundreds of lawmakers, a smiling Fidel Castro walked in public for the first time since falling and shattering his kneecap two months ago.

Legislators at a year-end National Assembly meeting looked stunned, then smiled and applauded when the 78-year-old president entered the main auditorium of the Convention Palace on the arm of a uniformed schoolgirl.

Wearing his olive green uniform, Castro walked slowly and stiffly about 100 yards across the full front row of the assembly, then up the stairs onto a stage.