Castro Resigns as Cuba's President

Morning Edition, February 19, 2008 · Fidel Castro announced Tuesday he is stepping down as Cuba's president and commander-in-chief.
The Cuban president is 81 and has ruled Cuba for most of his life. But he hasn't been seen in public since he became ill and provisionally turned over his powers to his brother, Raul, in July 2006.
Castro's retirement was not a surprise. Cuba's National Assembly is scheduled to meet this weekend to elect a new president. Castro was in position to be the president again, but he hinted in December that he would not hang onto power indefinitely.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19157770&ft=1&f=1004