Cuba's leader Fidel Castro announces retirement

Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro, 81 who has ruled his country since 1959 has announced he will not return to the presidency. His statement was today published in the official newspaper Granma, report the international media. After a July 2006 intestinal surgery, Castro temporarily abandoned the country's highest posts and handed over the power to his brother, Raul. "I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and comander in chief," Fidel Castro wrote in today's statement.