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/6201148.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade | Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade |
| (30 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. |
| He could still appear as the parade continues, but his apparent absence is fuelling more doubts about his health. | |
| Events are being led by the acting president, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and the island's defence minister. | |
| Most Cubans have known no other leader | Most Cubans have known no other leader |
| The parade began with Raul Castro riding on a jeep through Havana's main square after a 21-gun salute before he launched into a speech praising the Cuban revolution and attacking the United States. | The parade began with Raul Castro riding on a jeep through Havana's main square after a 21-gun salute before he launched into a speech praising the Cuban revolution and attacking the United States. |
| "Long live Fidel! Long live a free Cuba!," he concluded in front of a crowd of 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. |
| Soviet-era tanks and missile launchers are on show in Havana's Revolution Square. | |
| Soldiers have been marching past and at one point a replica of the Granma, the yacht that carried Fidel Castro back from exile, was pulled along the street. | |
| Socialist future | Socialist future |
| Senior Cuban government figures say that speculation about the Cuban leader's health is ill-informed and spread by his enemies. | Senior Cuban government figures say that speculation about the Cuban leader's health is ill-informed and spread by his enemies. |
| President Castro last appeared on TV over a month ago | |
| 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. |
| "When Fidel is no longer with us, his work his ideas and his example will be," Mr Lage said, 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," Mr Lage said, 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." |
| If there is no appearance at all by President Castro, 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. | Birthday celebrations were initially scheduled when the Cuban leader turned 80 in August, but were moved to December after he became ill. |
| 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. |