REUTERS - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro appeared healthy and engaged on Tuesday in his first known talks with U.S. officials since he underwent surgery in July 2006, three members of a U.S. congressional delegation said.

"Of course, he has been ill. But I think we will agree that he was very healthy, very energetic, very clear thinking," Representative Barbara Lee, one of three Democrats to meet Castro, told a news conference in Washington.

The meeting took place at a time of possible change in long hostile U.S.-Cuba relations, spurred by U.S. President Barack Obama's promises to take steps toward normalizing ties with the communist-ruled island, 90 miles (145 km) from Florida.

Three members of the seven-member visiting U.S. delegation met Fidel Castro at the end of a trip in which they also met with President Raul Castro, who took over from his ailing brother last year.

Lee, who led the U.S. group, and the other delegates said in Washington that Fidel Castro appeared eager to do his part to improve links between the countries.

"He was very well aware of what was going on," said Representative Laura Richardson. "As he leaned in, he looked directly into our eyes, quite aware of what was happening, and said to us 'how can we help President Obama?'"

Members of the U.S. delegation, who also held a lengthy meeting on Monday night with Raul Castro, said they were convinced the Cuban president wanted to end 50 years of hostility between the two countries.

 Representative Bobby Rush also attended the meeting with Fidel Castro.

Lee said the delegation brought a simple message to Washington after their five-day trip: "It's time to talk to Cuba. The moment is now."

But moving forward in U.S.-Cuban relations may be difficult in the face of opposition from some in the powerful Cuban-American exile community and their political allies who view the communist government in Havana with deep suspicion.

The U.S. lawmakers said they avoided specifics with Raul Castro, but were struck by his humor, impressed by his involvement in Third World causes and firm in their belief that he wants to end U.S.-Cuba enmity.

"All of us are convinced that President Castro would like normal relations and would see normalization, ending the embargo, as beneficial to both countries," Lee told reporters.

Messages for Washington?

The United States has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba since 1962. Washington's policy of isolating Havana began soon after Fidel Castro, who is now 82, took power in 1959.

"It was a very good meeting. It was very open and we discussed a wide range of issues," said Lee, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

The meetings with the Castros "mean that the Cuban government took the delegation seriously and perhaps had some messages for it to carry back," said Cuba expert Phil Peters at the Lexington Institute in Washington.

But, he said, "It's too early to conclude that a big change in U.S. policy, or in U.S.-Cuba relations, is in the cards."

The talks with Raul Castro were front-page news in the ruling Communist Party's Granma newspaper on Tuesday, which said the discussion covered various topics "with emphasis on the possible future evolution of bilateral relations and economic ties."

Raul Castro, the article said, made clear Cuba's long-standing position that it was prepared to talk about anything with the United States, while insisting on "absolute respect" for independence and national sovereignty.

A column by Fidel Castro in the same newspaper on Monday said Cuba did not fear dialogue with the United States and praised U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for recently urging engagement with Cuba.

Lee said the U.S. delegation would report to Obama and the State Department before the April 17 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, which Obama will attend.

News reports have said Obama will shortly lift restrictions on family travel and remittances between Cuba and the United States, perhaps before the summit. Congress is considering bills that would eliminate a ban on Americans visiting Cuba.

Obama has said he would maintain the trade embargo until Cuba shows progress on human rights and democracy, which Lee said the delegation discussed only generally with the Cubans.