Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 24, 2008

Cuba's National Assembly to Choose New Leader
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B578A5:A6F02AD83191E160EB80C24135163378E55ED32ED25AB8F6& Assembly is likely
to name Raul Castro as next president





Members of Cuba's National Assembly meet in Havana, 24 Feb 2008Cuba's
National Assembly meets Sunday to choose Fidel Castro's successor as
president, the first new leader for the communist island in nearly 50
years.

Illness forced Mr. Castro, 81, to temporarily hand power to his
younger brother, Raul, in 2006, and he announced last week he was
officially retiring. The Assembly is likely to name Raul Castro,
currently the defense minister and acting president, as the country's
next president.

Fidel Castro will remain the head of Cuba's Communist Party.

U.S. President George Bush has said he hopes the transfer of power
will mean the beginning of a democratic transition.

But in an article in the Cuban Communist newspaper Granma, Mr. Castro
discounted reports that his retirement would lead to political change.

And in an interview with CNN (Cable News Network) Sunday Mr. Castro's
daughter Alina Fernandez, who is in Florida, also said she did not
expect any big changes in Cuba.

Many Cubans complain about their lack of money and food shortages, in
a country where typical monthly wages are the equivalent of about $15.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte says Washington has no
intention of lifting its long-standing trade embargo against Cuba,
imposed in 1960, one year after Fidel Castro seized power.

Cuba says the embargo has cost the country more than $86 billion and
says it is forced to import items that would be cheaper coming from
the United States.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.




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