Fidel Castro, former Cuban leader, dies at 90

Fidel Castro was 90. (File)

Cuba’s former Prime Minister and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has died at the age of 90, state television reported on Saturday. He was the Prime Minister of the country from 1959 to 1976 and then served as President from 1976 to 2008. Cuban President Raul Castro announced the death of his brother on state television.

“The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this (Friday) evening,” the president announced on national television.

Head of government and state is president of the Council of State and president of Council of Ministers, positions Fidel Castro held until he resigned in February 2008. Castro’s younger brother Raul elected by National Assembly to replace him on February 24, 2008.

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In Pics | Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary whose rallying cry became ‘socialism or death’, dies at 90

He was responsible for converting Cuba into a one-party socialist state under Communist Party rule.