Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has made his first TV appearance for three months, ending speculation that he had died or suffered a major relapse.

Castro, 81 has not appeared in public since July last year when he underwent emergency intestinal surgery.

There have been no official photographs or video footage of him since 5 June.

In the taped interview, Castro spoke slowly with long pauses about a range of topics including the strength of the euro against the dollar.

'Yesterday the euro was at $1.41. Oil I think about $84 a barrel,' he said, suggesting that he was up to date on current affairs and that the interview was very recent.

He also showed a copy of a book by former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, which was published this week.