Cuban leaders back Raul

CUBA’S Communist leadership launched a campaign yesterday emphasising Raul Castro’s revolutionary roots and loyalty to his older brother in an attempt to reassure Cubans that the revolution would continue while Fidel Castro recovers from surgery.

The government said it would defend itself against US attempts to take advantage of Fidel’s health crisis, as US President George W Bush urged islanders to push for democratic change and some anti-Castro exiles urged Washington to go even further.

With neither Castro brother appearing in public since the announcement of Fidel’s surgery on Monday night, officials sought to assure Cubans that outside threats would come to nothing.