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Cuba’s ailing leader, Fidel Castro has announced he will not return to the presidency in a letter published by official Communist Party paper, Granma .
The Cuban leader, who had been in power for almost 50 years, wrote:
- “I neither will aspire to nor will I accept — I repeat — I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief.”
Mr Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery, and has not been seen in public since. The 81-year-old has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. In December, Mr Castro indicated that he could possibly step down in favour of a younger generation.
Tue Feb 19th, 2008 at 02:21:12 AM PST
Fidel Castro officially retired today, leaving his brother Raúl in charge of Cuban affairs. Steve Clemons has some thoughts on what it could mean for the American elections. As he notes, Obama’s position on Cuba has been superior to Clinton’s for some time. The U.S. should take this opportunity to offer an olive branch to Cuba by lifting all travel restrictions to and from Cuba. The lifting of all other sanctions can be negotiated out in short order if Cuba is willing to meet a couple of demands (release of its political prisoners, for example).
MIAMI (AP) Feb. 18, 2008 – Bernardo Viera Trejo still remembers the sweltering summer day in 1955 when he and his then-friend Fidel Castro met up shortly after the would-be revolutionary’s release from prison.
Castro had attempted to overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista with an assault on a military barracks. The attack failed and Castro had spent two years behind bars. Viera says that while they chatted, Castro drew a map of the doomed attack and signed it for him with a flourish.
Fidel Castro’s hand-drawn and signed map depicting his unsuccessful July 26, 1953 revolution-launching attack on Cuba’s Moncada Barracks (Cuartel Moncada) will be offered in a public auction by Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
