25 February 2013

CUBA : 26 Feb UPDATE: Raul Announces Last Presidential Term; Diaz-Canel Named VP, Possible Heir; Analysis And Detailed Profile.

      IST LINK CHANGE...with Analysis.

        Ex-leader Fidel Castro, 87...made a rare public appearance...as his brother Raul, 81...was sworn in for another 5-year term as president at a La Habana party congress.
      More newsworthy were Raul's announcements that this is his last term...and naming  Miguel Diaz-Canel as his new VP...replacing Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 82.
     Diaz-Canel, 53 in April...is an electrical engineer and professor from Villa Clara...who served in the army...was party boss in Holguin province...and an education minister.
     He assumes the presidency if Raul can no longer serve out his term...or...as many exiles hope...dies in office.
     But...will those other Castro allies and supporters passed over for Diaz-Canel...accept Raul's choice...and follow the heir?
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/cubas-heir-apparent-work-cut-18591570?singlePage=true
    !!!NEW LINK CHANGE!!! : TO READ: Longer Diaz-Canel profile...by Reuters' Cuba vet Marc Frank.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-cuba-castro-diaz-canel-idUSBRE91P00W20130226