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| Fidel Castro announces retirement |
| Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power.
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 19-February-2008
9:2:2 AM |
| I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma.
The 81-year-old handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery.
US President George W Bush said the news should mark the beginning of a transition towards democracy for Cuba.
"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," he told reporters in Rwanda.
"And we're going to help. The United States will help the people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty
The European Union meanwhile said it was ready to seek ways to relaunch ties with Cuba that have been almost completely frozen under Mr Castro.
Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a revolution in 1959.
In December, Mr Castro indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying "my primary duty is not to cling to any position".
Soon afterwards, Raul Castro appeared to suggest that his older brother still had an important political role to play, saying the president still had full use of his mental faculties and was being consulted on all important policy issues.
'Not saying farewell'
In the letter, published on Granma's website during the middle of the night in Cuba, Mr Castro said he would not accept another five-year term as president when the National Assembly meets on Sunday, because of the health problems.
"It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am not in a physical condition to offer," he wrote
Mr Castro said he had declined to step down after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 to avoid dealing a blow to his government before "the people" were ready for change "in the middle of the battle" with the US.
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