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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade | Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Cuban capital, Havana, is staging a military parade in honour of Fidel Castro but the ailing leader was not present at the start of events. | The Cuban capital, Havana, is staging a military parade in honour of Fidel Castro but the ailing leader was not present at the start of events. |
| The parade, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro. | The parade, 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 apparent absence will raise further questions about his health. | Officials say he is recovering but his apparent absence will raise further questions about his health. |
| 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. | |
| 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." Soviet-era tanks, missile launchers, even a few Mig fighter jets are on show in Havana's Revolution Square, attended by thousands of Cubans. | |
| It had been thought that President Castro might take the opportunity to make his first public appearance in four months on such a significant date. | It had been thought that President Castro might 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 |
| President Castro failure to attend the parade suggests 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. | His last appearance on Cuban television, looking frail and wearing pyjamas rather than his trademark military fatigues, was more than a month ago. |