Castro Steps Down as Cuban President

Cuban President Fidel Castro yesterday ended 49 years of rule by announcing his resignation.

"I will not aspire to or accept — I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept — the post of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief," read a letter signed by Castro published in the online edition of the daily Granma, which is published by the Cuban Communist Party.

Castro had held power since leading a communist revolution in 1959. In July 2006, he underwent surgery for intestinal bleeding and relegated power to his brother Raul. Since then, he has rarely been seen in public.

redfoot@donga.com