Venezuela's Chavez to visit Castro at start of 5-nation tour; also headed to China, Russia

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez began a five-nation tour Sunday with a stop in Cuba to visit ailing former leader Fidel Castro. Photographs released by the Venezuelan government showed a beaming Chavez and Castro's brother, current Cuban President Raul Castro, embracing at Jose Marti airport in Havana. Chavez said he would meet with Fidel on Sunday night and then travel on to Beijing, Moscow and another Russian city he didn't identify. The weeklong tour concludes with stops in Portugal and France. Chavez said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy plan to discuss 'very important issues on Europe, the world, the bilateral relationship.'