Cuba delays rare party congress

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Cuban President Raul Castro has postponed what would have been the the ruling Communist Party's first congress since 1997.

Mr Castro said the congress, which was expected before the end of the year, was being delayed so the party could deal with escalating economic problems.

He was quoted as saying the economic situation was "very serious".

Cuba has lowered its projected economic growth estimate for this year from 2.5% to 1.7%

That is down from an initial estimate of 6%.

The congress is used to set the Cuba's economic and political direction, and elect the party's leaders.

The one planned for this year was set to chart the country's future into an era where the generation that led the Cuban revolution is no longer in charge, the BBC's Michael Voss reports from the Cuban capital Havana.

"The most likely thing is that, given the nature of life, this will be the last congress led by the Revolution's historic leadership," Mr Castro was quoted as saying in the Communist Party newspaper Granma.

Mr Castro, 78, formally took over last year from his brother Fidel, who had led Cuba since taking power in the revolution of 1959.

The congress was due to decide whether Fidel Castro, 82, would continue as head of the party.

He stepped aside after undergoing gastric surgery in 2006 and has largely retreated from public life.

Cuba's economy has been badly hit by the global financial crisis forcing the government to push through a series of austerity measures, our correspondent says.

Citing Mr Castro, Communist Party newspaper Granma said the conference would be put off "until this crucial phase... has been overcome", but gave no indication of when that would be.