Castro supporters mourn loss of their 'leader'

Record ID: 77337

  • Title: Castro supporters mourn loss of their 'leader'
  • Date: 26th November 2016
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (NOVEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) CUBAN FAMILY WATCHING TELEVISION COVERAGE OF FIDEL CASTRO DEATH CUBAN CITIZEN, OVIDIO GONZALEZ, WATCHING TELEVISION, WITH TEARS IN EYES VARIOUS OF FAMILY WATCHING TELEVISION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN CITIZEN, DAYSI BETANCOURT, SAYING: "We are very sad for the death of our commander, even though he's dead, he'll always be our commander." FAMILY AT DOOR OF HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN CITIZEN, OVIDIO GONZALEZ, SAYING: "Very saddened. He was our leader, the leader for the people of the world. He can be summed up in one word -- the best." STOPLIGHT IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT VARIOUS OF CARS ON ROAD VARIOUS OF CUBANS WATCHING TELEVISION
  • Embargoed: 11th December 2016 09:27
  • Keywords: Castro Havana revolution Batista
  • Location: HAVANA, CUBA
  • City: HAVANA, CUBA
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015A2YBEV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: He had his supporters. Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader on the doorstep of the United States and for five decades defied U.S. efforts to topple him, died on Friday (November 25), his younger brother announced to the nation. He was 90.
    A towering figure of the second half of the 20th Century, Castro stayed true to his ideology beyond the collapse of Soviet communism, and retained an aura in parts of the world that had struggled against colonial rule and exploitation.
    He had been in poor health since an intestinal ailment nearly killed him in 2006. He formally ceded power to his younger brother two years later.
    Wearing a green military uniform, Cuba's President Raul Castro appeared on state television to announce his brother's death.
    Tributes poured in from world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro, who said "revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy."
    The streets were quiet in Havana, but some residents reacted with sadness to the news, while in Miami, where many exiles from the Communist government live, a large crowd waving Cuban flags cheered, danced and banged on pots and pans, a video on social media showed.
    Castro supporters began the mourning in their Havana homes.
    "We are very sad for the death of our commander, even though he's dead, he'll always be our commander," said Cuban, Daysi Betancourt.
    "Very saddened. He was our leader, the leader for the people of the world. He can be summed up in one word -- the beast," said Ovidio Gonzalez.
    Castro's remains will be cremated, according to his wishes. His brother said details of his funeral would be given on Saturday.
    The bearded Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years with a mix of charisma and iron will, creating a one-party state and becoming a central figure in the Cold War.
    He was demonized by the United States and its allies but admired by many leftists around the world, especially socialist revolutionaries in Latin America and Africa. After Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990, he repeatedly thanked Castro for his firm efforts to weaken apartheid.
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