Ailing Castro steps down

Ailing leader Fidel Castro today resigned as Cuba’s leader after nearly a half-century, saying he would not accept a new term when the newly elected parliament meets on Sunday.

“I will not aspire nor accept – I repeat I will not aspire or accept, the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief,” read a letter signed by Castro published quietly overnight without advance warning in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.