HAVANA - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro met Venezuela's former vice president Elias Jaua and voted in Cuba's municipal election at weekend after six-month absence from the public.

Elias Jaua told reporters earlier on Sunday that he met with Castro on Saturday and the retired Cuban leader "was very well."

After their meeting, Castro accompanied Jaua back to Hotel Nacional, where the visiting Venezuelan politician was staying.

Meanwhile, Castro voted on Sunday by absentee ballot in the country's municipal elections, according to the country's official media.

"Fidel Castro sent his ballot" in the 13th electoral constituency in Havana's El Vedado district where "he has voted since 1976," Cuban official news agency Prensa Latina said.

Cuban law allows voters who are physically unable to attend polls to cast their votes by absentee ballot, as was the approach adopted by Castro.

Castro, 86, had not appeared in public since meeting with visiting Pope Benedict XVI on March 28 and with Chilean student leader Camila Vallejoon on April 5.