Fidel Castro retires as Cuban President

Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said yesterday that he will not return to lead the country as President or commander-in-chief, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.

Mr Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public for almost 19 months after undergoing stomach surgery, said in a message to the communist nation that he would not seek a new presidential term when the National Assembly meets on February 24.

"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honour in recent days of electing me a member of parliament... I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept - I repeat not aspire to or accept - the positions of President of Council of State and Commander in Chief," Mr Castro said in the statement published on the website of the Communist Party's Granma newspaper.

The National Assembly or legislature is expected to nominate his brother and designated successor Raul Castro, 76, as President. Raul Castro has been running the country since emergency surgery to stop intestinal bleeding forced Mr Castro to delegate power on July 31, 2006.

Cubans on the empty streets of Havana were not surprised by his retirement.

"Everyone knew for a while that he would not come back. The people got used to his absence," said Roberto, a self-employed Cuban who did not want to be fully named.

"I don't know what to say. I just want to leave. This system cannot continue," said Alexis, a garbage collector.

In a deserted Revolution Square, site of many hours-long speeches by Mr Castro to massive crowds, a lone soldier stood guard at government headquarters and the city was calm.

The title of Comandante en Jefe or commander-in-chief, was created for Mr Castro in 1958 as overall leader of the guerrilla forces that swept down from the mountains of eastern Cuba to overthrow US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.

His retirement draws the curtain on a political career that spanned the Cold War and survived US enmity, assassination plots by the CIA and the demise of Soviet bloc communism.

A charismatic leader famous for his long speeches delivered in his green military fatigues, Mr Castro is admired in the Third World for standing up to the US but considered by his opponents a tyrant who suppressed freedom.

"It's incredible that 50 years of dictatorship can be accepted by Cubans and will continue to be accepted," said Ninoska Perez of the anti-Castro Miami-based exile organization, the Cuban Liberty Council.

Ms Perez said Mr Castro's retirement did not mean anything would change in Cuba and the news was unlikely to bring cheer to Cuban exiles waiting for an end to communism in their homeland and an opportunity to return.

"The real celebration will be when he (Mr Castro) can no longer write about it," she said.

Factbox

• Population: 11.4 million, mainly descendants of Spanish colonists and slaves brought from Africa. Capital Havana has a population of 2.2 million. Official language is Spanish.

• Area: At 114,449 sq.km, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and lies 145 km south of the Florida Keys. Cuba is surrounded by an archipelago of 1,600 coral keys and islets, most of which are uninhabited. Apart from the Sierra Maestra, which rises to 2,180 metres in the southeast, the country consists of flat plains and low, undulating hills. Climate is tropical.

• Best-known cubans:

Fidel Castro (1926-). Rebel chief who took power in 1959 and is now one of world's longest-serving leaders.

Jose Marti (1853-95). Writer and hero of 19th century independence struggle against Spanish colonial rule. Died riding into battle.

Fulgencio Batista (1900-73). Ex-dictator defeated by Castro in 1959 Cuban Revolution. Died in exile in Spain.

Antonio Maceo (1845-1896). General who led Cuban independence army in 19th century fight against Spaniards.

Alejo Carpentier (1904-80). Novelist and music expert.

Javier Sotomayor (1967-). High-jump world-record holder.

Felix Varela (1787-1853). 19th century priest and pro-independence philosopher.

Silvio Rodriguez (1946 - ). Singer-composer considered one of founders of Cuba's modern Nueva Trova movement.

Bene More (1919-63). Singer-composer considered maestro of traditional Cuban rhythms.

• Political system: One-party socialist republic, in which political power is vested in the Cuban Communist Party (PCC). Until his retirement, Fidel Castro occupied four most important political posts as head of state, head of government and the First Secretary of PCC, and supreme head of the armed forces.

• Religion: Ruling Communist Party has been traditionally atheist, but Roman Catholic Church continues to operate under some restraints. Church received a boost from Pope John Paul II's ground-breaking visit in January, 1998. A growing network of small Protestant Churches also exist and "santeria", an African-based local form of voodoo, has wide following.

• Economy: Wholly under state control since the 1959 revolution, except for tiny private sector since mid-1990s. Main exports: sugar, nickel, tobacco, citrus, seafood. Imports: oil, grains and oilseeds, chemicals, machinery.