This file picture from December 15, 1986, shows former Cuban President Fidel Castro (C), Nobel Literature Prize Gabriel Garcia Marquez (L) and movie director Fernando Birri (R) during the inauguration of the International School of Cinema in San Antonio de los Banos, Havana province.
- [Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images]

Former Cuban president Fidel Castro takes a nap during his final session of the 6th Cuban Communist Party Congress, on April 19, 2011 at the Convention Palace in Havana.
- [Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images]

Fidel Castro (L) greets Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) during a private meeting on February 24, 2010 in Havana, Cuba. Lula was on a two day visit to Cuba after having attended the Summit of the Group of Rio states in Mexico.
- [Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images]

This TV grab from a video shot on August 22, 2009 in Havana shows Cuban leader Fidel Castro (L) joking and chatting with Venezuelan Law students. This was the first new video of Castro in 14 months, since he began his recovery from major intestinal surgery.
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Cuban former president Fidel Castro (C),is seen on June 18, 2008 in Havana during a meeting with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez (L) and his brother and new Cuban President Raul Castro (R). Castro, 81, looked thin but animated as he spoke in a garden with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro in the first images released of the convalescing former president since January.
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This photo shows the last paragraph of Cuban President Fidel Castro's resignation message, entitled "Message from the Commander in Chief" published on February 19, 2008 in Cuba's official daily Granma. The last paragraph says "This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fight as a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to write under the heading of "Reflections by comrade Fidel." It will be just another weapon you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I shall be careful." Castro, 81, announced his resignation as president and commander in chief of Cuba almost 19 months after a severe illness caused him to hand power temporarily over to his brother Raul Castro.
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This picture released by the Cuban government shows Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) taking a photograph of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (R) in Havana in 2008. In seclusion since undergoing intestinal surgery 17 months ago, the 81-year-old communist president fueled speculation that he was finally ready to retire when he declared in December that he would not cling to office or obstruct the rise of a new generation of leaders. But Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fed the uncertainty after meeting Castro, saying that the veteran leader appeared healthy enough "to take on his political role."
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Cuban President Fidel Castro salutes the public during a rally in front of the US Interest Section in Havana 21 June 2004.
- [Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images]