February 19, 2008
Castro To Resign After 50 Years In Power
UPDATED.
Cuba's iconic leader, Fidel Castro, announced today that he will step down as president and commander in chief. He assumed power in 1959 and is the world's longest-serving political leader.
Castro published the news in a letter to the online edition of the Cuban Communist Party's daily paper, Granma, writing that he would "neither aspire to nor accept the positions of president of the state council and commander in chief." A translation of the letter is available here.
Poor health has driven the 81-year-old leader out of the public eye. Just before undergoing surgery for what he calls "intestinal trouble" in July 2006, Castro handed power over to his brother, Raul, and has not been seen in public since. Fidel acknowledged his health issues in announcing his resignation: "It would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer."
Raul Castro is now slated to take over his brother's position, with an official transition of power expected this weekend. Meanwhile, Cubans and the rest of the world will be watching to see who is named second-in-command to the 76-year-old.
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