New Fidel Castro photo surfaces

[PHOTO: Fidel Castro with Russian Orthodox cleric Kiril Gundajaev in a photo taken last October 20, 2008 in Havana.]Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has written a new book called "Peace in Colombia" (La paz en Colombia), in which he "reveals the contents of important documents, interviews and personal experiences for the first time ever" and "he leaves a record for history" of the "efforts by Cuba to contribute to peace" in the South American country, according to an official release.

The book launch coincides with the publication of a new photo of Castro in the Miami daily El Nuevo Herald - the first in five months - from when he received the second-in-command of the Russian Orthodox Church Kiril Gundajaev in Havana last October. The image was first released on the website of the Russian Church.

In July, Castro celebrated the liberation of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other kidnap victims of the Colombian rebel group FARC. He said, "They should never have kidnapped civilians, nor kept soldiers as prisoners in jjungle conditions" and asked FARC to hand over all hostages to humanitarian organizations.