Cuba's ailing leader, Fidel Castro has announced he will not return to the presidency in a letter published by official Communist Party paper, Granma.

"I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the Council of state and commander in chief," he wrote in the letter.

 

Mr Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery.

 

The 81-year-old has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959.

 

In December, Mr Castro indicated that he could possibly step down in favour of a younger generation.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7252109.stm

This is better than nothing --- but will this really change anything?

Friend of mine is cuban..

 

couple of months ago he said there was a rumor floating around that Castro had died.

 

guess it wasn't true :|

Fidel Castro may have resigned, but I am sure he still will be the de facto "Maximum Leader" meaning any major decisions about the direction of Cuba will be made or, at least, influenced by him. Ra?l Castro will more likely run the day-to-day operation like he has been since Fidel went under the knife.