Ailing Castro hands power to younger brother
1 Aug, 2006 06:15

Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down temporarily ahead of intestinal surgery and delegated power to younger brother Raul. The news was announced by an aide, reading a letter from the president on state television.
Castro, turning 80 in two weeks’ time, blamed the illness on stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba . He’s the world's longest-serving leader, head of state in Cuba since coming to power after the island’s revolution in 1959.