A photograph from an official Cuban website shows a student union leader speaking with Fidel Castro.
On July 31, 2006, the Cuban government announced that Castro’s duties as president had been transferred to Raul Castro while he underwent surgery to address “an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding”.
No further details were provided.
Cuban state-run television said the former long-time president died at 7pm local time. Castro’s younger brother and current president, Raul, confirmed the news. Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century before handing over the reins to his brother in 2008.
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, and grew up on a sugar plantation near the town of Birán in eastern Cuba.
On July 31 2006, the Cuban government announced that Castro’s duties as president had been transferred to Raul while he underwent surgery to address “an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding”.