Cuba state media says Castro had hernia surgery

Cuban state media say Communist Party leader Raul Castro is recovering from a hernia operation.

State television said on its evening broadcast that the 86-year-old leader who stepped down as president last month was following Friday’s plane crash in Havana as he recovered from surgery.

The report offered no further details on Castro’s health.

State media also said Cuba would fly flags at half-staff during an official period of mourning lasting until Sunday night.

A six-person crew from Mexico was among those on the plane Friday. A company in that country had rented the Boeing 737 to Cuban national airline Cubana de Aviacion.

Authorities have not given an official death toll, but so far only three people are said to have survived.