Cuban leader Fidel Castro is recovering from surgery and will return to office soon, Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer said on Friday.

"We know Comandante Fidel will recover soon and will be back with us soon," Balaguer said during a visit to Guatemala.

Castro, who turns 80 on Aug. 13, delegated power on Monday night to his younger brother Raul Castro, who is the country's defense minister.

The Cuban leader said he would be "out of power for several weeks" and had relinquished the presidency and the post as the first secretary of the Communist Party to Raul.

Source: Xinhua