Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader who built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States and for five decades defied US efforts to topple him, died on Friday. He was 90.
Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, led the tributes from world leaders after the announcement, which was greeted with shock in Havana and celebrations among expats in Miami.
"The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening," his brother, President Raul Castro, his brother, announced with a shaking voice on national television.
He ended the announcement by shouting the revolutionary slogan: "Hasta La Victoria Siempre!" (Towards victory, always!)
Fidel Castro has been suffering from intestinal problems since the early 2000s. In April, he told politicians that he would die soon but that the revolution's ideals would live on.
"I'll be 90 years old soon," he said at the time. "Soon I'll be like all the others."
His brother said the revolutionary leader's remains would be cremated early on Saturday, "in compliance with his expressed will."
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