Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was nominated yesterday for a seat in the National Assembly, a sign he may not be planning to step down as head of state despite struggling to recover from a long illness.

Mr Castro, 81, handed over power temporarily to his brother Raul 16 months ago after life-threatening stomach surgery and he has not been seen in public since. To formally remain President he must be a deputy in the assembly.

To cries of "Viva Fidel" (Long live Fidel), municipal councillors in Santiago raised their hands to unanimously approve Mr Castro's name on a slate of candidates for elections on January 20 to Cuba's national parliament. Since 1976, Mr Castro has represented Santiago, the cradle of his revolution.

Mr Castro turned Cuba into a communist state at the doorstep of the US after taking power in a guerilla uprising in 1959.

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