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| Fidel Castro announces retirement | Fidel Castro announces retirement |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power. | Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power. |
| "I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma. | "I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma. |
| The 81-year-old handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery. | The 81-year-old handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery. |
| US President George W Bush said the news should mark the beginning of a transition towards democracy for Cuba. | US President George W Bush said the news should mark the beginning of a transition towards democracy for Cuba. |
| "The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," he told reporters in Rwanda. | |
| This should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba US President George W Bush Reaction in quotes class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4312&edition=1">Send us your reaction | |
| "And we're going to help. The United States will help the people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty." | |
| Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. | Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. |
| In December, Mr Castro indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying "my primary duty is not to cling to any position". | In December, Mr Castro indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying "my primary duty is not to cling to any position". |
| Soon afterwards, Raul Castro appeared to suggest that his older brother still had an important political role to play, saying the president still had full use of his mental faculties and was being consulted on all important policy issues. | Soon afterwards, Raul Castro appeared to suggest that his older brother still had an important political role to play, saying the president still had full use of his mental faculties and was being consulted on all important policy issues. |
| 'Not saying farewell' | 'Not saying farewell' |
| In the letter, published on Granma's website during the middle of the night in Cuba, Mr Castro said he would not accept another five-year term as president when the National Assembly meets on Sunday, because of the health problems. | In the letter, published on Granma's website during the middle of the night in Cuba, Mr Castro said he would not accept another five-year term as president when the National Assembly meets on Sunday, because of the health problems. |
| "It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am not in a physical condition to offer," he wrote. | "It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am not in a physical condition to offer," he wrote. |
| I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas Fidel CastroLetter published in Granma Excerpts of Castro's letterCastro: The great survivor href="/1/hi/world/americas/5234790.stm">Profile: Raul Castro | |
| Mr Castro said Cuban officials had wanted him to remain in power after he underwent emergency surgery in 2006. | Mr Castro said Cuban officials had wanted him to remain in power after he underwent emergency surgery in 2006. |
| "It was an uncomfortable situation for me vis-a-vis an adversary that had done everything possible to get rid of me, and I felt reluctant to comply," he said in a reference to the US government. | "It was an uncomfortable situation for me vis-a-vis an adversary that had done everything possible to get rid of me, and I felt reluctant to comply," he said in a reference to the US government. |
| Despite the announcement of his impending retirement, the Cuban leader insisted he was "not saying farewell". | Despite the announcement of his impending retirement, the Cuban leader insisted he was "not saying farewell". |
| "I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas," he added. "I will continue writing under the title, Reflections of Comrade Fidel." | "I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas," he added. "I will continue writing under the title, Reflections of Comrade Fidel." |
| "I will be one more weapon in the arsenal that you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I will be careful." | "I will be one more weapon in the arsenal that you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I will be careful." |
| The National Assembly is widely expected to elect 76-year-old Raul Castro as his successor, although analysts say there is speculation about a possible generational jump with Vice-President Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a leading contender. | The National Assembly is widely expected to elect 76-year-old Raul Castro as his successor, although analysts say there is speculation about a possible generational jump with Vice-President Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a leading contender. |
| "There is also the intermediate generation which learned together with us the basics of the complex and almost unattainable art of organising and leading a revolution," Mr Castro wrote in Tuesday's letter. | "There is also the intermediate generation which learned together with us the basics of the complex and almost unattainable art of organising and leading a revolution," Mr Castro wrote in Tuesday's letter. |
| FIDEL CASTRO Born in 1926 to a wealthy, landowning familyTook up arms in 1953, six years before coming to powerBrother Raul (pictured) was deputy and Che Guevara third in commandHas outlasted nine American presidentsTarget of many CIA assassination plotsDaughter is a dissident exile in Miami Castro's life in pictures | |
| If elected, Raul Castro has indicated that major economic reforms and "structural changes" could be on the way. | If elected, Raul Castro has indicated that major economic reforms and "structural changes" could be on the way. |
| Fidel Castro did not say whether he would continue to be involved in government affairs or retain his post of secretary of the ruling Communist Party. | Fidel Castro did not say whether he would continue to be involved in government affairs or retain his post of secretary of the ruling Communist Party. |
| The Cuban ambassador to the Netherlands, Oscar de los Reyes, told the BBC that Mr Castro "embodies to a very large extent what Cuba is today" and would always remain Cuba's "elder statesman". | The Cuban ambassador to the Netherlands, Oscar de los Reyes, told the BBC that Mr Castro "embodies to a very large extent what Cuba is today" and would always remain Cuba's "elder statesman". |
| "Fidel will always preside over our revolution... In our minds and hearts he will always be the leader," he said. | "Fidel will always preside over our revolution... In our minds and hearts he will always be the leader," he said. |
| The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says nobody knows whether Mr Castro's decision not to seek another five-year term has been prompted by a decline in his health - it has been an official secret since the moment he was taken ill. | The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says nobody knows whether Mr Castro's decision not to seek another five-year term has been prompted by a decline in his health - it has been an official secret since the moment he was taken ill. |
| The president has not been seen in public for 18 months, although the government occasionally releases photographs and pre-edited video of him meeting visiting leaders from around the world. | The president has not been seen in public for 18 months, although the government occasionally releases photographs and pre-edited video of him meeting visiting leaders from around the world. |
| Last month, Mr Castro was shown talking to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who described him as being lucid and in good health. | Last month, Mr Castro was shown talking to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who described him as being lucid and in good health. |
| Mixed legacy | Mixed legacy |
| In power since he led a communist revolution which ousted the regime of President Fulgencio Batista in 1959, Mr Castro has been a dominant force in Latin American politics and a thorn in the side of the United States. | In power since he led a communist revolution which ousted the regime of President Fulgencio Batista in 1959, Mr Castro has been a dominant force in Latin American politics and a thorn in the side of the United States. |
| Under his leadership, Cuba underwent an economic and social transformation. Most foreign and local businesses were nationalised, land reform was introduced, and education and health care for the poor improved. | Under his leadership, Cuba underwent an economic and social transformation. Most foreign and local businesses were nationalised, land reform was introduced, and education and health care for the poor improved. |
| Mr Castro created the western hemisphere's first communist state | Mr Castro created the western hemisphere's first communist state |
| His government saw off an early threat from Cuban exiles, backed by the US, who launched an abortive invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. | His government saw off an early threat from Cuban exiles, backed by the US, who launched an abortive invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. |
| The following year saw the Cuban missile crisis, when the US and the Soviet Union came to the brink of war over the presence of Soviet nuclear warheads in Cuba. | The following year saw the Cuban missile crisis, when the US and the Soviet Union came to the brink of war over the presence of Soviet nuclear warheads in Cuba. |
| Mr Castro also backed a string of left-wing leaders in South America and Africa and, in 1975, sent thousands of troops to fight in Angola. | Mr Castro also backed a string of left-wing leaders in South America and Africa and, in 1975, sent thousands of troops to fight in Angola. |
| It is said that Mr Castro has been the target of many CIA-sponsored assassination plots as a result of such policies - in 1999 a Cuban interior ministry official put the figure at 637. | It is said that Mr Castro has been the target of many CIA-sponsored assassination plots as a result of such policies - in 1999 a Cuban interior ministry official put the figure at 637. |
| Washington has also imposed an economic embargo on Cuba for more than four decades, which helped cripple the Cuban economy in the 1980s after the Soviet Union withdrew financial aid and subsequently broke up. | Washington has also imposed an economic embargo on Cuba for more than four decades, which helped cripple the Cuban economy in the 1980s after the Soviet Union withdrew financial aid and subsequently broke up. |
| A tourism boom along with a rapprochement with oil-rich Venezuela, run by Mr Castro's great friend, Hugo Chavez, has allowed the economy recover slowly in recent years. | A tourism boom along with a rapprochement with oil-rich Venezuela, run by Mr Castro's great friend, Hugo Chavez, has allowed the economy recover slowly in recent years. |
| Our correspondent says the news of his retirement will take some digesting by Cubans, 70% of whom have known no other leader. | Our correspondent says the news of his retirement will take some digesting by Cubans, 70% of whom have known no other leader. |
| Mr Castro will leave a mixed legacy, he adds, with both friend and foe recognising him as an iconic leader and major figure in the post-war era. | Mr Castro will leave a mixed legacy, he adds, with both friend and foe recognising him as an iconic leader and major figure in the post-war era. |
| Are you a Cuban? What do you think of Mr Castro's decision? Do you have any memories of him? Please send your comments by using the form below: | Are you a Cuban? What do you think of Mr Castro's decision? Do you have any memories of him? Please send your comments by using the form below: |