Fidel Castro temporarily relinquishes power due to illness

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Washington, Aug 1: Cuban President Fidel Castro, who held sway for 47 years over his country, relinquished power temporarily in a surprise announcement last night saying he needed rest after undergoing surgery for a ''sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding''.

Mr Castro's announcement came just two weeks before his 80th birthday. He said he has temporarily relinquished power as President to his younger brother Raul Castro, Cuba's Defence Minister, who will also take over leadership of Cuba's Communist Party.

For the first time the news of his ailment came last night in a statement read on state television by his secretary Carlos Valenciaga. The message said Mr Castro's condition was apparently due to stress from heavy work. He did not appear on the broadcast.

Mr Raul Castro who turned 75 in June, also did not appear on television and made no statement on his own. For decades the constitutional successor to his brother, he has assumed a more public profile in recent weeks.

Mr Fidel Castro last appeared in public on Wednesday as he marked the 53rd anniversary of his July 26 barracks assault that launched the revolution. The Cuban leader seemed thinner than usual and somewhat weary during a long speeche in eastern Cuba.

Mr Castro, who seemed optimistic about his illness and recovery, asked his people to postpone his 80th birthday celebrations scheduled for August 13 until December 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

White House spokesman Peter Watkins said US authorities were monitoring the situation. ''We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom,'' he said.

The Cuban president has been in power since the January 1, 1959 triumph of the armed revolution that drove out dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Cuba is among the world's five remaining communist countries, along with China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea. Though nothing is known about his illness, all was not well came when Castro fainted in 2001 during a speech in the sun. He broke a kneecap and an arm when he fell after a speech on October 20, 2004, but laughed off rumors about his health. Most reports in 2005 speculated that he had Parkinson's disease.

Mr Castro had made it clear that he would not insist on remaining in power if he ever became too sick to lead. ''I will call the (Communist) Party and tell them I don't feel I'm in condition ... that please, someone take over the command, he had said.

UNI

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