Fidel Castro takes final voyage across Cuba

AFP, HAVANA: The ashes of Fidel Castro begin a four-day journey across Cuba Wednesday to his final resting place, retracing the late communist leader’s revolution victory tour of 1959.
The “caravan of freedom” will leave from Havana, making symbolic stops along the 950-kilometer (590-mile) trek that will end in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba over the weekend.
The trip follows two days of tributes in Havana where hundreds of thousands were encouraged by the government to view a picture memorial to Castro at the Revolution Square.
The commemorations in the capital ended with a massive rally Tuesday night at the square attended by Latin American, African and Caribbean leaders, along with the Greek prime minister—the only European leader at the event.
Raul Castro, 85, thanked the “countless gestures of solidarity and affection from around the world” and ending with the revolutionary battle cry, “Until victory, always!”
But the presidents of Western powers, and even friendly nations including Russia, China and Iran, sent deputies in their place.
The absences underscored the divisive legacy of a leader who defied the United States, backed guerrilla movements in Latin America and deployed his army to conflicts in Africa during the Cold War.
Leftist Latin American leaders vowed to carry the torch of Castro’s revolution as they addressed the rally on Tuesday night and the crowd chanted “I am Fidel!”
“Today it is up to us to raise the flags of independence of the great fatherland, today it is up to us to hold the flag of dignity and freedom of the people,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose late mentor, Hugo Chavez, had a special bond with Castro.

Fidel Castro takes final voyage across Cuba

AFP, HAVANA: The ashes of Fidel Castro begin a four-day journey across Cuba Wednesday to his final resting place, retracing the late communist leaders revolution victory tour of 1959. The caravan of freedom will leave from Havana, making symbolic stops along the 950-kilometer (590-mile) trek that will end in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba over the weekend. The trip follows two days of tributes in Havana where hundreds of thousands were encouraged by the government to view a picture memorial to Castro at the Revolution Square. The commemorations in the capital ended with a massive rally Tuesday night at the square attended by Latin American, African and Caribbean leaders, along with the Greek prime ministerthe only European leader at the event. Raul Castro, 85, thanked the countless gestures of solidarity and affection from around the world and ending with the revolutionary battle cry, Until victory, always! But the presidents of Western powers, and even friendly nations including Russia, China and Iran, sent deputies in their place. The absences underscored the divisive legacy of a leader who defied the United States, backed guerrilla movements in Latin America and deployed his army to conflicts in Africa during the Cold War. Leftist Latin American leaders vowed to carrythe torch of Castros revolution as they addressed the rally on Tuesday night and the crowd chanted I am Fidel! Today it is up to us to raise the flags of independence of the great fatherland, today it is up to us to hold the flag of dignity and freedom of the people, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose late mentor, Hugo Chavez, had a special bond with Castro.