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| Fidel Castro, Cuba's leader of revolution, dies at 90 | Fidel Castro, Cuba's leader of revolution, dies at 90 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. | Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. |
| His younger brother and successor as president Raul Castro announced the news on state television. | His younger brother and successor as president Raul Castro announced the news on state television. |
| Castro toppled the government in 1959, introducing a Communist revolution. He defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots. | Castro toppled the government in 1959, introducing a Communist revolution. He defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots. |
| His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. Critics saw him as a dictator. | His supporters said he had given Cuba back to the people. Critics saw him as a dictator. |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| Obituary: Fidel Castro | Obituary: Fidel Castro |
| Fidel Castro: A life in pictures | Fidel Castro: A life in pictures |
| Fidel: The world icon | Fidel: The world icon |
| Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in an unexpected late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated later on Saturday. | Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in an unexpected late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated later on Saturday. |
| "The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening (03:29 GMT Saturday)," he said. "Towards victory, always!" he added, using a revolutionary slogan. | |
| There is to be several days of national mourning on the island. | There is to be several days of national mourning on the island. |
| Barring the occasional newspaper column, Fidel Castro had essentially been retired from political life for several years. | Barring the occasional newspaper column, Fidel Castro had essentially been retired from political life for several years. |
| In April, Fidel Castro gave a rare speech on the final day of the country's Communist Party congress. | In April, Fidel Castro gave a rare speech on the final day of the country's Communist Party congress. |
| "I'll soon be 90," the former president said, adding that this was "something I'd never imagined". | "I'll soon be 90," the former president said, adding that this was "something I'd never imagined". |
| "Soon I'll be like all the others, "to all our turn must come," Fidel Castro said. | "Soon I'll be like all the others, "to all our turn must come," Fidel Castro said. |
| Castro was the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century. | Castro was the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century. |
| He temporarily handed over power to his brother in 2006 as he was recovering from an acute intestinal ailment. Raul Castro officially became president two years later. | He temporarily handed over power to his brother in 2006 as he was recovering from an acute intestinal ailment. Raul Castro officially became president two years later. |
| News of his death left some in Havana stunned. | News of his death left some in Havana stunned. |
| "I always said it couldn't be," said one woman, a government employee. "Even though they said it now, I say it can't be." | "I always said it couldn't be," said one woman, a government employee. "Even though they said it now, I say it can't be." |
| How he defied the US | How he defied the US |
| Throughout the Cold War, Fidel Castro was a thorn in Washington's side. | Throughout the Cold War, Fidel Castro was a thorn in Washington's side. |
| An accomplished tactician on the battlefield, he and his small army of guerrillas overthrew the military leader Fulgencio Batista in 1959 to widespread popular support. | An accomplished tactician on the battlefield, he and his small army of guerrillas overthrew the military leader Fulgencio Batista in 1959 to widespread popular support. |
| Within two years of taking power, he declared the revolution to be Marxist-Leninist in nature and allied the island nation firmly to the Soviet Union. | Within two years of taking power, he declared the revolution to be Marxist-Leninist in nature and allied the island nation firmly to the Soviet Union. |
| Yet, despite the constant threat of a US invasion as well as the long-standing economic embargo on the island, Castro managed to maintain a communist revolution in a nation just 90 miles (145km) off the coast of Florida. | Yet, despite the constant threat of a US invasion as well as the long-standing economic embargo on the island, Castro managed to maintain a communist revolution in a nation just 90 miles (145km) off the coast of Florida. |
| Despised by his critics as much as he was revered by his followers, he outlasted 10 US presidents and survived scores of attempts on his life by the CIA. | Despised by his critics as much as he was revered by his followers, he outlasted 10 US presidents and survived scores of attempts on his life by the CIA. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Latin American leaders have been quick to pay tribute. | Latin American leaders have been quick to pay tribute. |
| Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Castro was a "great friend" of Mexico, while to El Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren he was an "eternal companion". | |
| Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said "revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy". | Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said "revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy". |
| The Soviet Union's last leader Mikhail Gorbachev said: "Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him". | |
| Vladimir Putin described him as a "reliable and sincere friend" of Russia. | |
| For French President Francois Hollande Castro embodied Cuba's revolution in both its "hopes" and its later "disappointments". | |
| In Miami, where there is a large Cuban community, there have been celebrations in some parts of the city, with people banging pots and cheering. | |
| A Cuban exile group, the Cuban Democratic Directorate, said Castro left "legacy of intolerance" and had set up a "vicious totalitarian regime". | A Cuban exile group, the Cuban Democratic Directorate, said Castro left "legacy of intolerance" and had set up a "vicious totalitarian regime". |
| Fidel Castro's key dates | |
| Cuba's revolutionary leader | |
| Did you live in Cuba under Fidel Castro? Share your memories and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Did you live in Cuba under Fidel Castro? Share your memories and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |