By Tarun Basu

Havana, Sep 15 (IANS) Will he, won't he? Weeks of speculation, fuelled by a state-controlled media, was finally put to rest when ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro did not turn up at the inaugural of the 14th NAM summit held here after 27 years.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmed Badawi, in his capacity as previous chairman of the 116-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), handed over the chairmanship to Fidel Castro, but it was announced that his brother, Raul, who has been the acting president, would officiate in his absence.

Castro, 80, has been recuperating from intestinal surgery in July and had not resumed his duties since.

There had been intense speculation whether he would make an appearance at the two-day summit. Selected release of his photographs and interviews in the run-up to the summit had led some to believe he might make a dramatic appearance - at least at the inaugural.

Havana had last held a NAM summit in 1979.