This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7261204.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Cuba to select Castro's successor | Cuba to select Castro's successor |
| (about 4 hours 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. |
| Cubans in Havana discuss the priorities of their next presidentIn pictures | Cubans in Havana discuss the priorities of their next presidentIn pictures |
| 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 |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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, Canada class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4345">Send us your comments | |
| 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. |