A time for reflections: Cuba's Fidel Castro steps aside

19 February 2008

"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," Castro wrote in the letter.

The 81-year-old Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959.

He handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 just before he underwent intestinal surgery. He has not been seen in public since nor has the diagnosis for his illness been revealed.

The Cuban National Assembly or legislature is due to meet on 24 February and is expected to nominate his brother, and designated successor, Raul Castro, 76, as president.

Fidel was the leader of a guerrilla movement that overthrew US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. Along with his famous colleague Che Guevara, Fidel ruled the imagination of an entire generation through the 1960s and the period of the Cold War. If Che's followers earned the sobriquet of 'Guevarists' for themselves, Fidel's followers were dubbed 'Fidelistas.' 

Along with Che's beret, Fidel's green fatigues and beard became potent cultural symbols for generations of the young around the world, especially students. In his career Fidel survived continued US enmity, which resulted in a number of CIA assassination and coup attempts.