Raul Castro becomes Cuban leader

The Cuban Parliament elected Raul Castro head of the State Council which is the highest state post in the country on Sunday. Thus, the 76-year-old politician who has been carrying out functions of the leader of the state since July 2006 has become a successor of his brother Fidel. The latter was the leader of Cuba for 49 years; however, he announced that he was going to retire because of health problems on February 18, 2008.

One of the leaders of the Cuban Communist Party Machado Ventura has been appointed deputy head of the State Council. Fidel Castro was elected deputy of the National Assembly on February 20.

AFP