Morales 'sure' Castro will be back by May 1

La Paz: Bolivian President Evo Morales said he was "sure" Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has been recovering from intestinal surgery, will resume power during May Day celebrations in Havana on May 1, a Bolivian television station reported on Saturday.

"I'm sure, my Cuban brothers, that on May 1 comrade Fidel will return to governing Cuba and Latin America," Morales said, according to the private Unitel network. "I'm convinced that comrade Fidel will return to continue governing and leading the Cuban people."

No official word

The Bolivian president said he had not received any official word from Cuban authorities about plans for Castro to return to power or that he might make his first public appearance in nine months at a workers parade on May 1.

In Havana, senior Cuban officials preparing for the mass rally in Revolution Square could not confirm whether Castro would show up, but said he was involved in all major government decisions.

"If it is possible he will be there, if it is not, he won't be there," Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said at a news conference. "We all would like his fast recovery to be even faster so that he can be back with us," he said.