Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro – a towering figure of the 20th century – has died at the age of 90.
Nine days of mourning are being observed in the Caribbean island nation where Castro seized power in a coup in 1959 and remained President until he formally resigned in 2008, handing power to his brother (and current president) Raul. While there were displays of mourning in Cuba following news of his death, in Miami, home to many Cuban exiles, the atmosphere has been one of celebration.
Responses to the death of Castro among world leaders have also been mixed. Pope Francis, whom Castro met in Cuba last year, described his death as “sad news” and in a break with usual practice, sent a personally signed telegram. In the US, President Barack Obama said history would “record and judge” the “enormous impact” of Castro while President-elect Donald Trump described him as a “brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Castro as a “sincere and reliable friend of Russia” who had led his country on a path of “independent development” while China’s President Xi Jingping said his nation had lost a “good and true comrade”. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Castro’s death marked the end of an era and the “start of a new one for Cuba’s people” while French President Francois Hollande said Castro “incarnated the Cuban revolution, in both its hopes and subsequent disillusionments”.
Castro died on Friday after years of ill-health. His death was announced by his brother on state television.
