Castro Steps Down Amid Criticism Over Handling Of Undead Plague

Miami, Florida. ZWN - (AP)
Posted: Feb. 19th, 2008

Fidel Castro, Cuba's ruler for 49 years has announced that he would not accept a new term as president. The ailing communist leader, who is 81 and has not been seen in public since surgery in July 2006, has faced a huge back lash of unprecedented criticism for his administrations handling of the recent Necro-Mortosis outbreak that devastated Cuba's fragile economy last year.

The infestation, which began in July 2007 has been responsible for the demise of an estimated 5% of the total population of 11,394,043. Cuba has seen it's economy crippled and slow to rebound from the undead plague. The states near blackout of unfiltered news and refusal of outside assistance has further confounded the situation.

Castro was initially hailed a hero after the outbreak ended. Partly due to his strategic diversion of blame to General Ricardo Gomez, supreme commander of the Cuban army’s 'Mortosis suppression operations' on the island. General Gomez was apprehended after he and his family seemingly tried to attempt to flee the island in a military submarine.

This ill fated maneuver by General Gomez was thwarted when an exposed crew member spread the infestation throughout the vessel. The remaining Venezuelan crew and Gomez' family were rescued and relocated to their nations embassies.

Political maneuvers
It has been widely speculated since that Castro himself was responsible for staging the event in order to rid himself of a political adversary whilst at the same time divert civil frustration away from himself.

One of the main points of criticism seems to hinge on Castro's decision to initially evacuate the population from its stricken western provinces. This in effect helped to spread the virus deeper into the heart of the small island. This along with no national disaster evacuation plan meant that many refugees died whilst desperately attempting to reach the US shores in a flotilla of hastily assembled crafts many deemed un seaworthy.

President Bush has called on Cuba to prepare for free elections.

A spokesman for Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said "Mr Castro's departure opened the way for a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy. We are ready to extend any help to assist in the rebuilding of Cuba's health and civil infrastructure."

Mr Castro's brother Raul, the 76-year-old acting leader, is strongly tipped to replace him.

The US state department has said its embargo on Cuba remains in place.

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