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After 49 years, Castro calls it quits
February 19, 2008
Bringing the curtains down on an eventful 49-year tenure, Cuba's iconic President Fidel Castro announced his retirement on Tuesday.
In a message published in the online version of the official state newspaper Granma, he said he would not return to lead the country.
"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament... communicate to you that 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 handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery.
Image: Fidel Castro speaks to a crowd, holding a Cuban flag, in Sancti-Spiritus, some 340 km east of Havana on 25 May 2002.
Photographs: Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: The Fidel Castro I knew
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