Not dead yet (darn it), but seems it’s close as Castro has “temporarily” transferred his control of Cuba over to his younger brother:

“HAVANA - Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night and told Cubans he underwent surgery.

The Cuban leader said he had suffered gastrointestinal bleeding, apparently due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to the letter read live on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga.

“The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest,” the letter read, adding that extreme stress “had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure.”

Castro said he was temporarily relinquishing the presidency to his younger brother and successor Raul, the defense minister, but said the move was of “a provisional character.” There was no immediate appearance or statement by Raul Castro.

The elder Castro asked that celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Castro said he would also temporarily relinquish his duties as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba to Raul, who turned 75 in June and who has been taking on a more public profile in recent weeks.”

Here in Miami, they are going nuts on the streets, believing - at least as the local cuba-centric media is concerned - that this may signal the end of this despot’s tyranny. One thing is for sure - he’s eighty and although his father lived into his nineties no one lives forever, and you never know, maybe they “slip” on the operating table.

….”To God’s ear…..puede el diablo tener el bastardo!”

More at Babalu Blog

Update: Just an additional note on how significant this is, Castro had always said he would rule Cuba until he died. Which makes you wonder……