Thursday, November 18, 2010

Fidel Castro delegates powers as party head

Fidel Castro delegates powers as party head
By Jeff Franks, Reuters November 18, 2010 1:22 PM

This handout picture released by Cubadebate.cu shows Cuban leader Fidel
Castro (R) as he receives from the president of the University Students
Federation (FEU) Maidel Gomez the Alma Mater prize, during a meeting
with students in Havana on November 17, 2010.
Photograph by: ALEX CASTRO, Getty Images

HAVANA — Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said his frail health had
forced him to delegate his powers as head of Cuba's Communist Party,
suggesting that perhaps he had resigned his last leadership post.

State-run press said on Thursday he told students in a Wednesday meeting
he was not with them in his position as the ruling party's First Secretary.

"I got sick and did what I had to do — delegate my powers. I cannot do
something that I am not in condition to dedicate to full time," he said.

Castro, then president, provisionally ceded power to his brother Raul
Castro in 2006 after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed intestinal
ailment, then officially resigned as president in February 2008.

At least in name, he remained as head of the party, which is Cuba's only
legal political party and has scheduled a congress in April to determine
the island's future economic policy.

Castro ruled Cuba for 49 years after taking power in a 1959 revolution.

http://www.canada.com/business/Fidel+Castro+delegates+powers+party+head/3849468/story.html

No comments:

Post a Comment