Cuban President Fidel Castro Temporarily Gives Brother Power Due to Illness
Monday, July 31, 2006
HAVANA - Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night and told Cubans he underwent surgery.The Cuban leader said he had suffered gastrointestinal bleeding, apparently due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to the letter read live on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga. Castro said he was temporarily relinquishing the presidency to his brother and successor Raul, the defense minister. He said the move was of "a provisional character." He said celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 were to be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Castro said he would also temporarily relinquish 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.
(Source: AP/via Larry Van Horn)
Radio Havana broadcast in English on the following schedule:
Times: UTC target areas: na/North America; va/Various target areas
0000 0100 Radio Havana 9550na
0100 0100 Radio Havana 6000na 6060na 9820na
0200 0300 Radio Havana 6000na 6060na 9820na
0300 0400 Radio Havana 6000na 6060na 9820na
0400 0500 Radio Havana 6000na 6060na 9820na
0500 0600 Radio Havana 6000va 6060va 9550va 9820va 11760va
0600 0700 Radio Havana 6000va 6060va 9550va 9820va 11760va
2030 2100 Radio Havana 9505va 11760va
2100 2130 Radio Havana 9505va 11760va
2200 2230 Radio Havana 9505va 11760va