Fidel Castro talks to the Brazilian president in a video chat (15 January 2008)
Fidel Castro has not been seen in public since his operation in July
Castro's career
Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power.
"I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma.
The 81-year-old handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery.
US President George W Bush said the news should mark the beginning of a transition towards democracy for Cuba.
"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," he told reporters in Rwanda.
This should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba
US President George W Bush
"And we're going to help. The United States will help the people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty."
Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959.
In December, Mr Castro indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying "my primary duty is not to cling to any position".
Soon afterwards, Raul Castro appeared to suggest that his older brother still had an important political role to play, saying the president still had full use of his mental faculties and was being consulted on all important policy issues. [spoiler][spoiler]
mz más quería veterano said
07:26 02/19 2008
dats a real badman
Garrick said
07:27 02/19 2008
Interesting, mi woulda love fi see wha ago happen ah Cuba now.
Silly said
07:28 02/19 2008
A how cuba go run now?
Crazypickney said
10:23 02/19 2008
my gosh, cuba must feel good
RiddimRyder said
10:27 02/19 2008
mi neva woulda work till mi 81...freedom 35...well maybe 45 :P
crucial24 said
15:49 02/19 2008
yo mi say castro had the country controlled we a see wa a happen now
Major Krazy said
15:51 02/19 2008
Had to happen eventually but was hoping later rather than sooner!!!!
Smiley Goodas said
15:52 02/19 2008
A LONG DEM TIME DEM MAN YAH A RUN CUBA ANUH FROM MY MADA LIKKLE A TIME FI HIM GUH REST NOW
up2 said
16:01 02/19 2008
him stop do him job ova a yr now...a him bredda a run it off
viper_3kj said
16:08 02/19 2008
A long time that man ya fi retire
Major Krazy said
16:19 02/19 2008
US urges reform as Castro quits
Fidel Castro has not been seen in public since his operation in July
US President George W Bush has called on Cuba to prepare for free elections after Fidel Castro's announcement that he is retiring on health grounds.
The ailing communist leader, who is 81 and has not been seen in public since surgery in July 2006, said he would not accept a new term as president.
Mr Castro's brother Raul, the 76-year-old acting leader, is strongly tipped to replace him.
The US state department has said its embargo on Cuba remains in place.
This should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba US President George W Bush Reaction in quotesCold War to thaw?Send us your comments
It would probably not be lifted "any time soon", one senior official said.
The European Union said it hoped to revive ties with Cuba while China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Havana.
Beijing has taken over as one of Havana's key economic partners, the BBC's Nick Miles reports.
Moscow used to fulfil that role but it was noticeably silent on the end of the Fidel era, he adds.
No demonstrations calling for change were reported on the streets of Havana - in contrast to celebrations by anti-Castro exiles in Miami, Florida.
'Blessings of liberty'
Speaking on a tour of Africa, Mr Bush said he regarded Mr Castro's departure as "a period of transition, and it should be the beginning of the democratic transition in Cuba".
The US, he added, was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".
FIDEL CASTRO Born in 1926 to a wealthy, landowning family Took up arms in 1953, six years before coming to power Brother Raul was deputy and Che Guevara third in command Has outlasted nine American presidents Target of many CIA assassination plots Daughter is a dissident exile in Miami Castro's life in pictures
In the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said Mr Castro's departure opened the way for a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy.
China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Cuba.
Mr Castro announced his resignation in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma in the middle of the night, Cuban time.
He said he was "not in a physical condition" to continue as president and commander-in-chief but promised to remain "a soldier of ideas", writing essays entitled Reflections of Comrade Fidel.
The National Assembly is widely expected to elect Raul Castro as Fidel's successor. He has mooted major economic reforms and "structural changes".
But some analysts see a possible generational jump, with Vice-President Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a leading contender.
Raul Castro has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials.
He has also had the advantage of continued economic support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the form of millions of barrels of cheap oil.
The ailing communist leader, who is 81 and has not been seen in public since surgery in July 2006, said he would not accept a new term as president.
Mr Castro's brother Raul, the 76-year-old acting leader, is strongly tipped to replace him.
The US state department has said its embargo on Cuba remains in place.
This should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba US President George W Bush Reaction in quotesCold War to thaw?Send us your comments
It would probably not be lifted "any time soon", one senior official said.
The European Union said it hoped to revive ties with Cuba while China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Havana.
Beijing has taken over as one of Havana's key economic partners, the BBC's Nick Miles reports.
Moscow used to fulfil that role but it was noticeably silent on the end of the Fidel era, he adds.
No demonstrations calling for change were reported on the streets of Havana - in contrast to celebrations by anti-Castro exiles in Miami, Florida.
'Blessings of liberty'
Speaking on a tour of Africa, Mr Bush said he regarded Mr Castro's departure as "a period of transition, and it should be the beginning of the democratic transition in Cuba".
The US, he added, was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".
FIDEL CASTRO Born in 1926 to a wealthy, landowning family Took up arms in 1953, six years before coming to power Brother Raul was deputy and Che Guevara third in command Has outlasted nine American presidents Target of many CIA assassination plots Daughter is a dissident exile in Miami Castro's life in pictures
In the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said Mr Castro's departure opened the way for a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy.
China described Mr Castro as an old friend and said it would maintain co-operation with Cuba.
Mr Castro announced his resignation in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma in the middle of the night, Cuban time.
He said he was "not in a physical condition" to continue as president and commander-in-chief but promised to remain "a soldier of ideas", writing essays entitled Reflections of Comrade Fidel.
The National Assembly is widely expected to elect Raul Castro as Fidel's successor. He has mooted major economic reforms and "structural changes".
But some analysts see a possible generational jump, with Vice-President Carlos Lage Davila, 56, a leading contender.
Raul Castro has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials.
He has also had the advantage of continued economic support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the form of millions of barrels of cheap oil.