Castro Quits

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Revolutionary icon Fidel Castro permanently gave up the Cuban presidency on Tuesday (Feb. 19, 2008), ending five decades of ironclad rule of the island marked by his brash defiance of the United States.

In a message published by the online version of the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma, the 81-year-old Castro said he would not seek the presidency again when the new parliament meets Feb. 24.

"I neither will aspire to nor will I accept -- I repeat -- I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief," Castro wrote.

"It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total commitment that I am not in physical condition to offer," he said.

Castro did not say who he thought should be his successor as president, though most analysts believe his brother Raul, 76, is the obvious choice.

[Msterbeau]

About time...

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Not that i've spent more than 6 minutes thinking about cuba anytime in the last 10 years. (other than watching The Godfather Part II)