Independent: "Adios Castro?"

Recepción al cielo del dictador?

With fireworks over Havana harbour and the first military parade of this century, hundreds of thousands of Cubans turned out yesterday for Fidel Castro's belated 80th birthday party, but the veteran leader did not appear.

No one had said he would, but there had been hints, including one from vice-president Carlos Lage, who said in advance that "we will have him among us" but left it open as to whether he meant yesterday or simply for ever. The Comandante's absence strongly suggested that his illness was serious, possibly even terminal, and that he was unlikely to grasp the reins of power again.

Most of those on the streets were pro-Castro Cubans, some bussed in by local communist groups, who had hoped the Comandante would make a surprise appearance, which would have been his first in public since intestinal surgery in July. His opponents, including the so-called Ladies in White, wives and mothers of imprisoned dissidents, had also hoped he would show himself, just so they could check on his condition - indeed, whether he was still alive.

European diplomats said Mr Castro would have loved nothing more than to appear at such an occasion, beamed around the world, with leftist leaders such as Evo Morales of Colombia and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, as well as old friend Gabriel García Márquez among the dignitaries. (His closest regional ally, Hugo Chávez, was kept away by today's election.)

As ageing Soviet-made tanks, MiG jet fighters and anti-missile launchers trundled through Havana's Revolution Square, it was a bit like the old days of Kremlin-watching to see who would be on the podium, in which order, and who would take the salute. In the end, it was Mr Castro's younger brother Raul, acting president since Fidel's illness, who played the role of Jefe Máximo, or Maximum Chief.

(Hat Tip: Drudge)

Tags: Castro, Cuba, dictators, grim reaper