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Fidel Castro: world reacts to death of Cuban leader – live updates | Fidel Castro: world reacts to death of Cuban leader – live updates |
(35 minutes later) | |
9.34am GMT | |
09:34 | |
There has not yet been any reaction to Castro’s death from the White House. The US, in particular the CIA, reportedly considered or launched more than 600 assassination attempts on Castro over decades, including using poison pills, toxic cigars and exploding molluscs. His eventual death was long considered by the US to be the “biological solution” to communism in the Caribbean country. | |
But in December 2014, Obama and Raul Castro announced an extraordinary rapprochement in US-Cuban relations, promising to restore diplomatic ties and bring the two nations into a more congenial relationship. An end to the US’s 58-year embargo of Cuba, however, is dependent on Congress, where many remain opposed to normalising relations with Havana as long as any Castro is in power. | |
9.29am GMT | |
09:29 | |
Gorbachev hails Castro for ‘strengthening’ Cuba | |
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has hailed Castro for “strengthening” his island nation. Interfax news agency quoted Gorbachev as saying: | |
Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him and he still took his country out of this blockade to a path of independent development. | |
In the past years, even when Fidel Castro was not formally in power, his role in strengthening the country was huge. | |
Gorbachev added that Castro would be remembered as a “prominent politician” who managed to leave a “deep mark in the history of mankind.” | |
The Kremlin has not yet reacted to Castro’s death. | |
9.20am GMT | |
09:20 | |
Former Labour trade minister Brian Wilson said Castro had sent out a “beacon of hope” to Latin America. | |
He educated his people and he gave them healthcare they had never had before, and you can admire all of that without being an uncritical supporter, believe me, but do not lose the bigger picture - that Fidel Castro, for his region and for oppressed people throughout the world, sent out a message of hope. | |
Wilson led efforts to normalise trade links with Cuba and shared an Old Havana whisky with the president at one meeting. “He proposed a toast to Tony Blair and the third way, I proposed a toast to peace and socialism,” he told the Today programme. | |
9.15am GMT | |
09:15 | |
Ken Livingstone calls Castro 'absolute giant of 20th century' | |
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has said Castro was an “absolute giant of the 20th century” and blamed the US for the restrictions on civil liberties under his leadership. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Livingstone said: | |
I’m sure they will, over time, move towards something like a traditional west European democracy. It could have happened a lot earlier if you hadn’t had, the entire time, a blockade by America, attempts to overthrow the regime, eight assassination attempts authorised by American presidents. | |
Livingstone said Cuba could reform now it was not under threat of American invasion “even if Trump goes a little bit bonkers”. He added: | |
Of course Fidel did things that were wrong... Initially he wasn’t very good on lesbian and gay rights, but the key things that mattered was that people had a good education, good healthcare and wealth was evenly distributed. | |
He was not living as a billionaire laundering money off into a Panamanian bank account or anything like that, he was good for the people. | |
Updated | |
at 9.32am GMT | |
9.11am GMT | |
09:11 | |
Castro has cast a shadow over Miami for decades, and in many ways, his policy and his power have shaped the city and its inhabitants, the Associated Press reports. | |
Cubans fled to Miami, Tampa, New Jersey and elsewhere after Castro took power in 1959. Some were loyalists of Fulgencio Batista while others left with the hope they would be able to return after Castro was toppled. But he never was. | |
Many others believed they would not be truly free under Castro and his communist regime. Thousands left behind their possessions, loved ones, and hard-earned educations and businesses, traveling to the US by plane, boat or raft. Many Cubans died on the ocean trip to South Florida. And many never returned to see their childhood homes, their neighborhoods, their playgrounds, their businesses, their cousins and aunts and uncles, because Castro was still in power. | |
The ones that made it to Miami took a largely, and vehemently, anti-Castro stance. | |
On New Year’s Eve every year, Cubans in Miami utter a toast in Spanish as they hoist glasses of liquor: “Next year in Cuba.” But as the Cuban exiles aged, and as Castro outlived them, and as Barack Obama eroded the embargo and younger Cubans returned to the island, the toast rang silent in many households. | |
So news of Castro’s death has long been anticipated by exiles in Miami. | |
9.02am GMT | 9.02am GMT |
09:02 | 09:02 |
Meanwhile, celebrations abound in Miami’s Little Havana, where the largest diaspora of Cuban exiles live. It is currently 4am in Florida. | |
Cubans march down Calle Ocho in Little Havana in Miami celebrating Fidel Castro's death (raining & almost 2am but that won't stop the party) pic.twitter.com/LxvWAuxGsO | Cubans march down Calle Ocho in Little Havana in Miami celebrating Fidel Castro's death (raining & almost 2am but that won't stop the party) pic.twitter.com/LxvWAuxGsO |
Updated | |
at 9.19am GMT | |
8.58am GMT | 8.58am GMT |
08:58 | 08:58 |
Mandela Foundation sends its condolences to Cuba | |
The Nelson Mandela Foundation has sent its condolences to the people and government of Cuba. Remember, Mandela said the Cuban revolution was “a source of inspiration for all those who value freedom”. “We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of the vicious imperialist and orchestrated campaign to destroy the awesome force of the Cuban revolution,” he said. “Long live the Cuban Revolution! Long live comrade Fidel Castro!” | |
#NelsonMandela Foundation sends deepest condolences to the people & government of Cuba on passing of Fidel Castro https://t.co/5R3ySxl3MA pic.twitter.com/YeLt2zaw7f | #NelsonMandela Foundation sends deepest condolences to the people & government of Cuba on passing of Fidel Castro https://t.co/5R3ySxl3MA pic.twitter.com/YeLt2zaw7f |
Updated | |
at 9.32am GMT | |
8.51am GMT | 8.51am GMT |
08:51 | 08:51 |
Spanish government express condolences | |
The Spanish government has just expressed its condolences to Cuba, writes Sam Jones in Madrid. | The Spanish government has just expressed its condolences to Cuba, writes Sam Jones in Madrid. |
In a measured statement released this morning, the foreign ministry said: | In a measured statement released this morning, the foreign ministry said: |
A figure of great historic importance has gone, a man who brought about a turning point in the country’s evolution and whose great influence was felt across the region. As the son of Spanish parents, former President Castro always maintained strong links with Spain and was bound by ties of blood and culture. | A figure of great historic importance has gone, a man who brought about a turning point in the country’s evolution and whose great influence was felt across the region. As the son of Spanish parents, former President Castro always maintained strong links with Spain and was bound by ties of blood and culture. |
Updated | |
at 9.33am GMT | |
8.50am GMT | 8.50am GMT |
08:50 | 08:50 |
“I first met Fidel Castro when I secured the right to export Cuban cigars to Asia,” David Tang wrote in the Guardian earlier this month. “It was around 1992. We were driven to meet him in one of his homes, as he was very supportive of the Cuban cigar industry. It was a sort of bunker on the outskirts of Havana. We went downstairs into a basement that looked out on to a lowered garden, which was very beautiful. | “I first met Fidel Castro when I secured the right to export Cuban cigars to Asia,” David Tang wrote in the Guardian earlier this month. “It was around 1992. We were driven to meet him in one of his homes, as he was very supportive of the Cuban cigar industry. It was a sort of bunker on the outskirts of Havana. We went downstairs into a basement that looked out on to a lowered garden, which was very beautiful. |
“I arrived for dinner at around 7pm, and he was there with two interpreters, standing beside him, one at each shoulder. They would translate as we spoke – there had to be two; he talked so much that one on his own would get very tired. We stayed standing up and talking for more than two hours, by which time the two interpreters were absolutely exhausted, so two new ones were brought in. I was amazed that anybody could talk so much. | “I arrived for dinner at around 7pm, and he was there with two interpreters, standing beside him, one at each shoulder. They would translate as we spoke – there had to be two; he talked so much that one on his own would get very tired. We stayed standing up and talking for more than two hours, by which time the two interpreters were absolutely exhausted, so two new ones were brought in. I was amazed that anybody could talk so much. |
“He was utterly charming, but quite intimidating, with his enormous stature, military uniform and impressive beard. His speech was a bit rambling and he would gesticulate a lot with his hands, but he was never boring – in fact, he had me spellbound.” | “He was utterly charming, but quite intimidating, with his enormous stature, military uniform and impressive beard. His speech was a bit rambling and he would gesticulate a lot with his hands, but he was never boring – in fact, he had me spellbound.” |
Click below to read the full piece. | Click below to read the full piece. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.57am GMT | at 8.57am GMT |
8.39am GMT | 8.39am GMT |
08:39 | 08:39 |
The Cuban dissident blogger Yoani Sánchez has tweeted: “Only a few hours left until the first dawn of my life without Fidel Castro.” | The Cuban dissident blogger Yoani Sánchez has tweeted: “Only a few hours left until the first dawn of my life without Fidel Castro.” |
#Cuba Faltan varias horas para el primer amanecer sin Fidel Castro que he vivido en mi vida... pic.twitter.com/AM7nXiWFBc | #Cuba Faltan varias horas para el primer amanecer sin Fidel Castro que he vivido en mi vida... pic.twitter.com/AM7nXiWFBc |