Cuba celebrates Castro´s birthday

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2006 09:18

Thousands have gathered in the seaside city of Santiago de Cuba for a ceremony to mark Cuban leader, Fidel Castro's, eightieth birthday. But Castro himself was unable to turn up.

The festivities, which included a military parade, had originally been planned to take place around Castro's actual birthday on August 13th. But abdominal surgery in July forced Castro to postpone celebrations to December 2nd a date chosen to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

But a message, reportedly from Castro, says doctors think he's not well enough to attend the gala launch of festivities.

Editor:Du Xiaodan