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| Fidel Castro announces retirement | Fidel Castro announces retirement |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Cuba's ailing leader, Fidel Castro has announced he will not return to the presidency in a letter published by official Communist Party paper, Granma. | Cuba's ailing leader, Fidel Castro has announced he will not return to the presidency in a letter published by official Communist Party paper, Granma. |
| "I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the Council of state and commander in chief," he wrote in the letter. | "I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the Council of state and commander in chief," he wrote in the letter. |
| Mr Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery. | Mr Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery. |
| The 81-year-old has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. | The 81-year-old has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959. |
| In December, Mr Castro indicated that he could possibly step down in favour of a younger generation. | In December, Mr Castro indicated that he could possibly step down in favour of a younger generation. |
| The National Assembly is scheduled to meet on 24 February to elect his successor. |