Uncertainty over Cuba's fate eases

Public anxiety in Cuba over the future appeared to be easing yesterday eight days after its ailing leftist leader Fidel Castro stunned the country by handing over temporary power to his brother.

The communist authorities, however, kept police and security forces, including military reservists, on alert.

Workers paved streets and tidied up boulevards in the crumbling capital Havana in preparation for a summit of the Nonaligned Movement of developing nations next month.

Cubans were still concerned about Gen. Castro's condition following surgery for internal bleeding but were relieved that the country had not fallen into chaos and a political succession was in place.

"People are getting used to the idea that Fidel will be out for weeks, for months or maybe forever," said driver Manuel, a Havana resident who said life was getting back to normal.

Aleida Guevara, daughter of Gen. Castro's late guerilla comrade-in arms Ernesto "Che" Guevara, was the latest Cuban personality to assure the public that Gen. Castro was recovering.

"The day he is no longer with us, our people will push ahead, because that was decided long ago," she wrote in answer to questions on a Foreign Ministry chat page.

There was no new word on the condition of Gen. Castro, who on July 31 relinquished power to his brother Raul Castro after undergoing the surgery. It was the first time Gen. Castro had handed over the reins in the 47 years he has ruled the Caribbean island nation of 11 million people.

Cuban officials said on Monday they had achieved a peaceful succession of power. They repeated earlier assurances that Gen. Castro was getting better but estimates on when he could retake power varied from several weeks to several months, depending on who was talking.

They also dismissed those who had hoped the transfer of power would provoke an uprising on the island which Gen. Castro has dominated since his 1959 revolution.

Gen. Castro has yet to be seen in person or photographed since handing over power provisionally to Raul Castro, 75, who has also made no public appearance or statement.

Eyes were now turning towards Fidel Castro's 80th birthday on Sunday to see what might happen. Planned island-wide festivities have been postponed to December and this week's Carnival parade in Havana has been cancelled.