Fidel Castro dies at the age of 90
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, commonly known as Fidel Castro, was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008.
"The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening (03:29 GMT Saturday)," President Raul Castro (Fidel's brother) said.
Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost 50 years before Raul took over. Even though there were many unsuccessful assassination plots against him, he is still the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century. In 2006 he temporarily handed over power to his brother as he was recovering from an acute intestinal ailment. Raul Castro officially became president two years later in 2008.
Despised by his critics as much as he was revered by his followers, he outlasted ten US presidents and defied scores of attempts on his life by the CIA.
RIP in Fidel Castro.
