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Cuba pays tribute to Che Guevara Cuba pays tribute to Che Guevara
(about 3 hours later)
The memory of Latin American Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara is being honoured in Cuba 40 years after his capture and summary execution.The memory of Latin American Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara is being honoured in Cuba 40 years after his capture and summary execution.
About 10,000 people are attending a ceremony at his mausoleum in Santa Clara, the town where he once fought a battle during Cuba's revolution.About 10,000 people are attending a ceremony at his mausoleum in Santa Clara, the town where he once fought a battle during Cuba's revolution.
Raul Castro, brother of ailing Cuban leader Fidel, is at the event.Raul Castro, brother of ailing Cuban leader Fidel, is at the event.
Other commemorations are being held in Bolivia and Venezuela, countries where the Argentine-born hero was active.Other commemorations are being held in Bolivia and Venezuela, countries where the Argentine-born hero was active.
His heroic struggle and that of other revolutionaries will continue until savage capitalism is changed Evo MoralesBolivian president
He had travelled to Bolivia to help lead an uprising but was tracked down and killed by soldiers in 1967.He had travelled to Bolivia to help lead an uprising but was tracked down and killed by soldiers in 1967.
Che's ideas and looks have been captivating young people across the world since the late 1960s, his bearded face and beret acquiring iconic status.Che's ideas and looks have been captivating young people across the world since the late 1960s, his bearded face and beret acquiring iconic status.
His critics describe Che as a brutal man who ordered the execution of dozens of his opponents and helped move Cuba further towards communism in the early years of the revolution.His critics describe Che as a brutal man who ordered the execution of dozens of his opponents and helped move Cuba further towards communism in the early years of the revolution.
'Infinite revolutionary''Infinite revolutionary'
The ceremony in Santa Clara opened with the reading of a message from Fidel Castro, who paid tribute to Che as an "exceptional soldier". The ceremony in Santa Clara opened with Raul Castro reading out a message from Fidel.
A ceremony is expected to be held at the scene of Che's death A ceremony was held at the scene of Che's death in Bolivia
Suffering from intestinal illness, the 81-year-old Cuban leader handed over power to his brother Raul 14 months ago. "I halt in my day-to-day combat to bow my head, with respect and gratitude, before the exceptional fighter who fell 40 years ago," the message said.
Evo Morales, Bolivia's leftist president, lavished praise on the dead revolutionary ahead of his country's commemorations. Suffering from intestinal illness, the 81-year-old Cuban leader handed over power to Raul 14 months ago.
"It is impossible to eclipse the life of Che," he told Reuters news agency in an interview. Che's daughter Aleida Guevara said her father's work had been vindicated by the recent leftward shift in Latin America.
"Nobody could do that. One could consider themselves the successor of Che only if they give their life for humanity." "Today Latin America begins to awaken and their dreams are coming true," she said in the mausoleum.
In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez described Che as an "infinite revolutionary" in a speech on TV. In Bolivia, the leftist President, Evo Morales, visited the site where Che was first buried after his execution, and addressed a crowd of mourners on a windswept hill just outside Vallegrande.
"Che lives," he said.
"His heroic struggle and that of other revolutionaries will continue until savage capitalism is changed.
"Latin America cannot continue being the backyard of American imperialism."
In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez described Che as an "infinite revolutionary" in a speech on TV just before the anniversary.