<p><br /> A healthy-looking Fidel Castro has appealed to President Barack Obama to prevent a global nuclear war.<br /> </p><p><br /> His speech to parliament marked his first official government appearance since emergency surgery four years ago.<br /> </p><p><br /> Castro, who turns 84 in a week, arrived on the arm of a minder, waving and smiling as the crowd applauded loudly in unison.<br /> </p><p><br /> Dressed in olive-green fatigues without military insignias, he immediately took the podium and delivered a fiery 11-minute speech on his fears of an impending global nuclear war.<br /> </p><p><br /> Asked by one parliamentarian if US President Barack Obama would be capable of starting a nuclear war, Castro replied, "No, not if we persuade him not to."<br /> </p><p><br /> Castro's participation in Saturday's legislative session marks the revolutionary's first official government act and his first joint appearance with Raul Castro since emergency intestinal surgery in 2006.<br /> </p>
