Castro Resigns, Brother to Unveil Economic Reforms

Fidel Castro resigns as first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party just as his brother, Raul, prepares to liberalize the country.

Fidel Castro formally resigned as first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party, a position he has held for more than 50 years, and handed over power to his younger brother, Raul, who has promised more economic and democratic freedoms for the Caribbean island. Fidel, 84, has handed most of his presidential powers over to the healthier Raul since 2006, but his resignation from the party this week officially ends a political life that outlasted nine U.S. presidents, many of whom were hell-bent on getting the bearded, cigar-chomping revolutionary booted from office. The resignation coincided with some 300 new economic measures passed unanimously by party officials, the details of which will be announced today by Raul in his first speech as first secretary. One of the new policies is expected to recommend allowing the private ownership of property, a first since Castro's communist revolution in 1959.