Castro gives up power before surgery

Dude · Aug 1, 2006

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060801/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_castro

HAVANA - Fidel Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, rebuffed repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise almost everywhere else, temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night because of surgery.

The Cuban leader said he underwent surgery after suffering gastrointestinal bleeding, apparently due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to a letter read live on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga.

"The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," said the letter. Extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure."

Castro said he was temporarily relinquishing the presidency to his younger brother and successor Raul, the defense minister, but said the move was of "a provisional character." There was no immediate appearance or statement by Raul Castro.

It was the first time in his decades-long tenure that Castro has given up power, though he had been affectged in the recent past with occasional health problems.

The announcement drew cheering in the streets in Miami. People waved Cuban flags on Little Havana's Calle Ocho, shouting "Cuba, Cuba, Cuba," hoping that the end is near for the man most of them consider to be a ruthless dictator. There were hugs, cheers and dancing as drivers honked their horns. Many of them fled the communist island or have parents and grandparents who did.

The elder Castro asked that celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Castro said he would also temporarily delegate his duties as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba to Raul, who turned 75 in June and who has been taking on a more public profile in recent weeks.

In power since the triumph of the Cuban revolution on Jan. 1, 1959, Castro has been the world's longest-ruling head of government. Only Britain's Queen Elizabeth, crowned in 1952, has been head of state longer.
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shotglass · Aug 1, 2006

This is just how they got Kennesaw Mountain Landis.

I think.

Chi City 81 · Aug 1, 2006

D_B.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/30101/

Dude · Aug 1, 2006

The Good Doc Cockdian said:

D_B.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/30101/
Click to expand...

God I suck.

Songbird · Aug 1, 2006

Castro with the gastro.

Jesus_Muscatel · Aug 1, 2006

Loved the CNN footage in Miami.

What a night to be in South Beach.

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