Castro Goes Down

HAVANA, Cuba — An ailing Fidel Castro, 81, resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he was retiring and will not accept a new term when the new parliament meets Sunday. "I will not aspire to nor accept — I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept — the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief," read a letter signed by Castro published early Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.
The end of Castro's rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006. President Bush who doesn't seem to understand what democracy is said he hopes the resignation signals the beginning of a democratic transition.
Reuters report w/video HERE
NPR report w/podcast HERE