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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cuba waits for Castro appearance | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Cuban capital, Havana, is gearing up for a military parade in a few hours with speculation mounting whether the ailing Fidel Castro will appear. | The Cuban capital, Havana, is gearing up for a military parade in a few hours with speculation mounting whether the ailing Fidel Castro will appear. |
| The event, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro. | The event, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro. |
| President Castro underwent emergency intestinal surgery at the end of July and has not been seen in public since. | President Castro underwent emergency intestinal surgery at the end of July and has not been seen in public since. |
| Officials say he is recovering but his absence has raised questions about his health and Cuba's political succession. | Officials say he is recovering but his absence has raised questions about his health and Cuba's political succession. |
| Birthday celebrations were originally due in August and President Castro has so far missed five days of festivities this week. | Birthday celebrations were originally due in August and President Castro has so far missed five days of festivities this week. |
| Continuity | Continuity |
| At a gala on Friday attended by several Latin American leaders, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said Mr Castro's health was improving and that the country would remain socialist long into the future. | At a gala on Friday attended by several Latin American leaders, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said Mr Castro's health was improving and that the country would remain socialist long into the future. |
| Most Cubans have known no other leader | Most Cubans have known no other leader |
| "In Cuba, there will be no succession. There will be continuity." Mr Lage said. | "In Cuba, there will be no succession. There will be continuity." Mr Lage said. |
| "When Fidel is no longer with us, his work his ideas and his example will be," he went on, before adding: "Fidel is recovering. We will have him among us, he will keep leading and we will ask him to keep doing so for some years more." | "When Fidel is no longer with us, his work his ideas and his example will be," he went on, before adding: "Fidel is recovering. We will have him among us, he will keep leading and we will ask him to keep doing so for some years more." |
| Soviet-era tanks, missile launchers, even a few Mig fighter jets will be on show in Havana's Revolution Square, with some 300,000 Cubans expected to attend. | Soviet-era tanks, missile launchers, even a few Mig fighter jets will be on show in Havana's Revolution Square, with some 300,000 Cubans expected to attend. |
| Many on the island are expecting President Castro to take the opportunity to make his first public appearance in four months on such a significant date. | Many on the island are expecting President Castro to take the opportunity to make his first public appearance in four months on such a significant date. |
| Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Mr Castro made another comeback, returning to Cuba from exile in Mexico to launch a guerrilla war aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara. | Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Mr Castro made another comeback, returning to Cuba from exile in Mexico to launch a guerrilla war aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara. |
| Three years later, their 9,000-strong force overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista. | Three years later, their 9,000-strong force overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista. |
| More time | More time |
| If President Castro does not attend Saturday's parade, it will be a sign that it is unlikely he will be back holding the reins of power, correspondents say - a development that would be life-altering news for Cubans, most of whom know no other leader. | |
| Birthday celebrations were initially scheduled when the Cuban leader turned 80 in August, but were moved to December after he became ill and temporarily transferred power to his brother, Raul. | Birthday celebrations were initially scheduled when the Cuban leader turned 80 in August, but were moved to December after he became ill and temporarily transferred power to his brother, Raul. |
| President Castro was due to attend a concert earlier this week, but instead he sent a message apologising that he needed more time to recuperate. | President Castro was due to attend a concert earlier this week, but instead he sent a message apologising that he needed more time to recuperate. |
| His last appearance on Cuban television, looking frail and wearing pyjamas rather than his trademark military fatigues, was more than a month ago. |