This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38198834
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Cuba: Crowds pay last respects to Fidel Castro in Santiago | Cuba: Crowds pay last respects to Fidel Castro in Santiago |
(35 minutes later) | |
The urn with the ashes of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has arrived in the city of Santiago, the birthplace of the revolution, where he will be laid to rest. | The urn with the ashes of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has arrived in the city of Santiago, the birthplace of the revolution, where he will be laid to rest. |
Large crowds shouting 'Long live Fidel!" greeted his funeral cortege. | Large crowds shouting 'Long live Fidel!" greeted his funeral cortege. |
Thousands are expected to pay their final respects shortly at a ceremony in the city's Revolution Square. | Thousands are expected to pay their final respects shortly at a ceremony in the city's Revolution Square. |
President Raul Castro will lead the tributes. He took over when his brother's health deteriorated in 2006. | |
Fidel Castro's ashes will be buried on Sunday. | Fidel Castro's ashes will be buried on Sunday. |
The leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia are due to attend, as is the Argentine footballer, Diego Maradona. | The leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia are due to attend, as is the Argentine footballer, Diego Maradona. |
Former Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff have also travelled to Cuba for the ceremony. | Former Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff have also travelled to Cuba for the ceremony. |
'A father to us' | 'A father to us' |
People waving flags and pictures of Fidel Castro have turned out to watch the cortege on its four-day journey from the capital Havana. | People waving flags and pictures of Fidel Castro have turned out to watch the cortege on its four-day journey from the capital Havana. |
"All of us who love Fidel, who is a father to us. He cleared a path for us and the people will follow him," Tania Maria Jimenez told Reuters. | "All of us who love Fidel, who is a father to us. He cleared a path for us and the people will follow him," Tania Maria Jimenez told Reuters. |
She was among thousands of Cubans watching as the urn with Mr Castro's ashes was driven past the historic Moncada barracks in Santiago. | She was among thousands of Cubans watching as the urn with Mr Castro's ashes was driven past the historic Moncada barracks in Santiago. |
Fidel Castro was part of the small group of revolutionaries who launched an attack on the barracks on 26 July 1953. | Fidel Castro was part of the small group of revolutionaries who launched an attack on the barracks on 26 July 1953. |
The attacked failed, but it was considered the first act of the revolution that would depose the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista on 1 January 1959. | The attacked failed, but it was considered the first act of the revolution that would depose the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista on 1 January 1959. |
Opinion on Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century, remains divided. | Opinion on Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century, remains divided. |
Supporters say he returned Cuba to the people and praise him for some of his social programmes, such as public health and education. | Supporters say he returned Cuba to the people and praise him for some of his social programmes, such as public health and education. |
But critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent. | But critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent. |
Fidel Castro died on 25 November aged 90. | Fidel Castro died on 25 November aged 90. |
His ashes will be placed in the Ifigenia Cemetery, where Cuban independence hero Jose Marti is buried. | His ashes will be placed in the Ifigenia Cemetery, where Cuban independence hero Jose Marti is buried. |