Cuba’s former president Fidel Castro dies at 90
Fidel Castro, Cuba's former president and leader of the Communist revolution, passed away at age 90, BBC quoted his brother as saying.
“The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening," President Raul Castro said.
Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost 50 years before Raul took over in 2008.
Ashen and grave, President Castro told the nation in an unexpected late night broadcast on state television that Fidel Castro had died and would be cremated later today.
There would now be several days of national mourning on the island.
Barring the occasional newspaper column, Fidel Castro had essentially been retired from political life for some time.
In April, Fidel Castro gave a rare speech on the final day of the country's Communist Party congress.
He acknowledged his advanced age but said Cuban communist concepts were still valid and the Cuban people ‘will be victorious.’
Castro, who had survived many assassination plots, was the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century.
Castro temporarily handed over power to his brother in 2006 as he was recovering from an acute intestinal ailment.
Raul Castro officially became president two years later.
We need another 90 years to see a leader like him ....... !
A rare personality even his enemies respected him, even with the ill wills .......... on their minds ........
A great man ... "Men do not shape destiny, Destiny produces the man for the hour"