Castro's 80th birthday bash kicks off without him
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Fidel Castro's 80th birthday celebration kicked off on Tuesday with the ailing Cuban leader nowhere in sight but hundreds of admirers from around the world were on hand to pay homage.
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After a long illness, Fidel Castro stepped down on Tuesday, ending one of the longest tenures as head of state in the world, according to Granma, the official publication of the Cuban Communist Party.
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he was not well enough to attend the opening of several days of events celebrating his 80th birthday.
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro told hundreds of admirers who traveled here for his 80th birthday party that he was not well enough to meet with them on Tuesday.
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A year after emergency surgery forced Fidel Castro to hand over power for the first time since his 1959 revolution, he has become a prolific writer on world affairs but shows no sign of returning to lead Cuba.
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was not well enough to attend the closing ceremony on Friday for his 80th birthday but Cuba's vice president said he was getting better and would continue leading the communist island.
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It was supposed to be the ultimate tribute, several days of parties and concerts to mark Fidel Castro's 80th birthday. But instead of listening to folk music and attending conferences on his legacy, Castro is expected to spend his birthday Sunday in bed, recovering from surgery for intestinal bleeding.
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Fidel Castro's absence from his belated 80th birthday celebration has reinforced suspicions he is too gravely ill to return to power he ceded provisionally to brother Raul last summer.
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HAVANA -- Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro failed to appear yesterday at the non aligned summit but his stand-in, younger brother Ra&#xFA;l Castro, delivered a fiery speech blaming the United States for a plethora of global problems.
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he will not return to lead the country, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.
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When Gladys Morales heard that Fidel Castro had temporarily given up power, she woke her 70-year-old mother to celebrate with other Cuban exiles dancing in the streets.
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Troops are massing for a huge parade and guests are arriving from around the world to celebrate Fidel Castro's 80th birthday. Now the question is: Will the ailing guest of honor make an appearance?
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Cuban leader Fidel Castro called in to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's radio talk show on Tuesday, declaring he's "more energetic, stronger" and his country is running smoothly without him at the helm.
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SANTA CLARA, Cuba  - Cuban President Fidel Castro,  78, injured a knee and possibly an arm on Wednesday when he  fell while descending a flight of steps after making a one-hour  speech.
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he was not well enough to attend a gala kicking off five days of celebrations of his 80 years.
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Cuba held a day of mourning Tuesday for Vilma Espin Guillois, the guerrilla who became the most powerful woman in the revolution that propelled her brother-in-law Fidel Castro to power.
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Cuban President Fidel Castro fell as he left the stage in Santa Clara on Wednesday night after a televised speech. The 78-year-old Castro quickly recovered his composure and assured Cubans he was &quot;all in one piece.