Fidel Castro travels outside of Havana in olive-green shirt

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was Saturday shown on state television travelling out of Havana for the first time since his emergency surgery in July 2006.

The official NNTV channel showed Castro donning an olive-green shirt and travelling to Artemisa to attend a memorial service for 20 fallen fighters of the Cuban Revolution.

The fighters lost their lives while attacking the Moncada barracks on July 26 of 1953.

The former leader was shown laying flowers at the mausoleum and recalling the events of that day.

He was accompanied by Ramiro Valdes and Guillermo Garcia, two other leaders of the Revolution.

It was Castro's first public appearance outside the capital city since he handed over power to his brother Raul in 2006. Since July 7, he has made a series of public appearances in Havana.

Considered as one of the most important anniversaries in the island's history, this year's memorial service will be held on Monday in the province of Villa Clara, next to the mausoleum of the legendary Argentinean - Ernesto Che Guevara.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is expected to show up at the memorial service, predicted on July 7 when Fidel Castro made his first post-surgery appearance: "Soon he (Fidel) will be dressing olive-green again."

Source: Xinhua