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| Cuba to select Castro's successor | Cuba to select Castro's successor |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Cuba's National Assembly is due to select a new head of state to replace Fidel Castro, 81, who is stepping down after nearly half a century in charge. | Cuba's National Assembly is due to select a new head of state to replace Fidel Castro, 81, who is stepping down after nearly half a century in charge. |
| It is widely expected that his younger brother Raul Castro will succeed him. | It is widely expected that his younger brother Raul Castro will succeed him. |
| This would formalise a position 76-year-old Raul has effectively held since July 2006, when Fidel Castro underwent intestinal surgery. | This would formalise a position 76-year-old Raul has effectively held since July 2006, when Fidel Castro underwent intestinal surgery. |
| But Cuba could opt for a member of a younger generation of politicians, says the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana. | But Cuba could opt for a member of a younger generation of politicians, says the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana. |
| These include Vice-President Carlos Lage, 56, or Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, 42. | These include Vice-President Carlos Lage, 56, or Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, 42. |
| Economic reforms | Economic reforms |
| Whoever takes over will have to steer the Caribbean island through un-chartered waters in an unpredictable period of economic and political renewal, our correspondent adds. | Whoever takes over will have to steer the Caribbean island through un-chartered waters in an unpredictable period of economic and political renewal, our correspondent adds. |
| Raul Castro has a reputation as an organiser who gets things done | Raul Castro has a reputation as an organiser who gets things done |
| The 614-member assembly, itself elected during polls in January, will also select a vice president and the entire 32-strong executive Council of State. | The 614-member assembly, itself elected during polls in January, will also select a vice president and the entire 32-strong executive Council of State. |
| If selected during Sunday's meeting, which is due to start at 1000 (1500 GMT), Raul Castro has suggested he will implement major economic reforms and "structural changes". | If selected during Sunday's meeting, which is due to start at 1000 (1500 GMT), Raul Castro has suggested he will implement major economic reforms and "structural changes". |
| He has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials. | He has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials. |
| He has also had the advantage of continued economic support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the form of millions of barrels of cheap oil, our reporter adds. | He has also had the advantage of continued economic support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the form of millions of barrels of cheap oil, our reporter adds. |
| Letter announcement | Letter announcement |
| I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas Fidel CastroLetter published in Granma Excerpts of Castro's letterCastro: The great survivorProfile: Raul Castro | |
| Mr Castro, who has ruled Cuba since leading a revolution in 1959, announced his retirement in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma last week. | Mr Castro, who has ruled Cuba since leading a revolution in 1959, announced his retirement in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma last week. |
| He said he had not stepped down after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 because he had had a duty to the Cuban people to prepare them for his absence. | He said he had not stepped down after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 because he had had a duty to the Cuban people to prepare them for his absence. |
| But retirement, he added, would not stop him from carrying "on fighting like a soldier of ideas", and he promised to continue writing essays entitled Reflections of Comrade Fidel. | But retirement, he added, would not stop him from carrying "on fighting like a soldier of ideas", and he promised to continue writing essays entitled Reflections of Comrade Fidel. |
| Though he has not been seen in public for 19 months, the government occasionally releases photographs and pre-edited video of him meeting visiting leaders from around the world. | Though he has not been seen in public for 19 months, the government occasionally releases photographs and pre-edited video of him meeting visiting leaders from around the world. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY With Chavez in the background providing cheap oil, the new government will see less need to adopt a progressive economy.Alfred Saville, Hamilton, CanadaSend us your comments | |
| The retiring leader will be remembered as one of the most distinctive and enduring icons from the second half of the 20th Century, the BBC's Paul Keller writes. | The retiring leader will be remembered as one of the most distinctive and enduring icons from the second half of the 20th Century, the BBC's Paul Keller writes. |
| With his olive green fatigues, beard and Cuban cigars, Fidel Castro was the original Cold Warrior. | With his olive green fatigues, beard and Cuban cigars, Fidel Castro was the original Cold Warrior. |
| Under his leadership Cuba established the first Marxist-Leninist state in the Western hemisphere, almost within sight of the US coastline. | Under his leadership Cuba established the first Marxist-Leninist state in the Western hemisphere, almost within sight of the US coastline. |
| Embracing communism and the patronage of the Soviet Union, Fidel Castro transformed Cuba economically and socially but had to struggle when it collapsed. | Embracing communism and the patronage of the Soviet Union, Fidel Castro transformed Cuba economically and socially but had to struggle when it collapsed. |
| He leaves his country with universal free healthcare and a much-admired education system, which has produced doctors for the developing world, but also a failing economy. | He leaves his country with universal free healthcare and a much-admired education system, which has produced doctors for the developing world, but also a failing economy. |