Cuba 'prepared to defend revolution'

Cuba’s communist leadership launched a campaign today emphasising Raul Castro’s revolutionary roots and loyalty to his older brother, 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 Castro’s health crisis, as US President George Bush urged islanders to push for democratic change and some anti-Castro exiles urged Washington to go even further.