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Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade
(about 1 hour 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. Cuban President Fidel Castro has missed a massive military parade held in his honour in Havana, fuelling more speculation about his health.
The parade, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro. President Castro, 80, had 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. Cuba's acting leader, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother, led events.
He could still appear as the parade continues, but his apparent absence is fuelling more doubts about his health. He used the opportunity to attack the US but also renewed an offer to hold talks with Washington to end decades of bitter and tense ties.
Events are being led by the acting president, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and the island's defence minister. Until the last minute no-one knew if Fidel Castro would make an appearance at the parade, held as part of belated birthday celebrations for him and to mark a key date in Cuban history.
State secret
The events 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.
Most Cubans have known no other leaderMost 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. He attacked Washington but also left open the possibility of improving ties.
"We take this opportunity to once again state that we are willing to resolve at the negotiating table the longstanding dispute between the United States and Cuba... as long as the said resolution is based on the principle of equality, reciprocity, non-interference and mutual respect," he said.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Havana says it is significant that Raul Castro used such an event to repeat this, something Fidel Castro would never have done.
Raul Castro gave no further information on the state of his brother's health, which is a state secret.
"Long live Fidel! Long live a free Cuba!," he concluded in front of a crowd of thousands of Cubans."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. Frail-looking
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. Soviet-era tanks and missile launchers were on show in Havana's Revolution Square.
Socialist future
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 agoPresident 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. Soldiers marched past and a replica of the Granma, the yacht that carried Fidel Castro back from exile, was pulled along the street.
"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." Senior Cuban government figures say that speculation about the Cuban leader's health is ill-informed and spread by his enemies.
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. But President Castro's non-appearance will increase doubts that he will resume control, 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.