Fidel Castro appears in public to pay tribute to brother's late wife

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro appeared in public Thursday by visiting a school here to mark the birthday of his late sister-in-law, a revolutionary heroine, the official NTV news reported.

Castro visited the educational complex named after Vilma Espin, who fought alongside the former leader against the government of Fulgencio Batista and later married his brother Raul, the current president.

He participated in a ceremony paying homage to Espin, who died in 2007 at the age of 77, together with students and teachers of nursery and primary education, said the report.

"I am sure that Vilma would be very happy today," Castro said. "She would see why she sacrificed her life. Everyone who dies fighting for the Revolution is leaving energies on the road."

He described Thursday's visit as a "privilege" for him, saying that type of school was like a "kind of dream."

"I tried to remember if I knew a place where there was a school like this. That place does not appear," Castro said.

TV broadcast images showing Castro saying hello and talking animatedly to children and school teachers on issues related to education, health and food.

Castro, 89, handed over power to his younger brother in 2008 after a serious intestinal surgery that put him on the brink of death.

Since then, he has been devoted to writing articles on international politics.

The former leader, who usually receives international personalities visiting the island country at his home in Havana, made his last public appearance in the summer of 2015. Endi