Cuba's National Assembly has held its end-of-year session with no sign
of ailing President Fidel Castro.
It is only the second time in the past 30 years that he has not
attended, and his usual chair was left empty.
The meeting was instead chaired by his younger brother, acting President
Raul Castro.
The veteran leader handed over control to his brother in late July,
before undergoing urgent intestinal surgery. He has not been seen in
public since.
Members of the Cuban national assembly are chosen in elections in which
only candidates approved by the Cuban Communist Party can run.
"We are optimistic, we have to think that he will be back," the head of
foreign relations for the Communist Party, Fernando Ramirez de Estenos,
told the BBC.
"And in another sense, he is present: he is present with the 609 members
of the National Assembly, he is present - because his ideas and his
goals are here," he added.
Missed parade
The session began with lawmakers singing the national anthem behind the
closed doors of the Havana convention centre.
A minute's silence was observed for a member of parliament who had died.
During a speech, Cuban Economics Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez addressed
the absent Mr Castro.
"Keep following the new paths of combat for the good of your people," Mr
Rodriguez said.
"We will be ready to carry out your orders and guarantee your work with
the faith in victory that you have always instilled in us."
It is the latest in a series of national events that Mr Castro has
missed since falling ill.
Last month, he was not present at a major military parade marking the
50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces and the delayed
celebration of his mid-August birthday.
In a speech earlier this week, Raul Castro, 75, did not mention his
brother's health.
But he said Cuba's communist system would continue with or without
Fidel, whom he called "irreplaceable".
State secret
Correspondents say Raul Castro's stated intention to delegate more
widely and encourage more public debate may signal a shift towards more
openness.
Cuban officials have repeatedly denied that Fidel Castro is suffering
from cancer.
Correspondents say that an increasing number of Cubans believe that
whatever Fidel Castro's health might be, he seems unlikely to return to
power.
Cubans were told that details of the illness would be kept secret to
prevent Cuba's enemies from taking advantage of them.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/6204197.stm
Published: 2006/12/23 03:56:47 GMT
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