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From Fidel to Raúl: New Party Leader, Same Old Guard

CUBA

At a party congress in Havana, Fidel Castro, the octogenarian custodian of the Cuban revolution, finally relinquished his place as head of the Cuban Communist Party, leaving the reins of power entirely in the hands of his 76-year-old brother Raúl. Though Raúl has announced plans for the liberalization of Cuba's economy and gradual reform of its sclerotic political system, he remains surrounded by a clutch of aging, die-hard revolutionaries who marched half a century ago with the Castros in the jungles. Youthful up-and-comers have been sidelined, bringing into question how fast and effective change may be in the Caribbean nation.