By Anthony Boadle
HAVANA (Reuters) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said onTuesday that he will not return to lead the country aspresident or commander-in-chief, retiring as head of state 49years after he seized power in an armed revolution.
Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public for almost 19months after undergoing stomach surgery, said in a message tothe communist nation that he would not seek a new presidentialterm when the National Assembly meets on February 24.
"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honour inrecent days of electing me a member of parliament ... Icommunicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept -- Irepeat not aspire to or accept -- the positions of President ofCouncil of State and Commander in Chief," Castro said in thestatement published on the Web site of the Communist Party'sGranma newspaper.
The National Assembly or legislature is expected tonominate his brother and designated successor Raul Castro, 76,as president. Raul Castro has been running the country sinceemergency surgery to stop intestinal bleeding forced Castro todelegate power on July 31, 2006.
Cubans on the empty streets of Havana were not surprised
by his retirement.
"Everyone knew for a while that he would not come back. Thepeople got used to his absence," said Roberto, a self-employedCuban who did not want to be fully named.
"I don't know what to say. I just want to leave. Thissystem cannot continue," said Alexis, a garbage collector.
In a deserted Revolution Square, site of many hours-longspeeches by Castro to massive crowds, a lone soldier stoodguard at government headquarters and the city was calm.
'COMANDANTE'
The title of "Comandante en Jefe" or commander-in-chief,was created for Castro in 1958 as overall leader of theguerrilla forces that swept down from the mountains of easternCuba to overthrow U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
His retirement draws the curtain on a political career thatspanned the Cold War and survived U.S. enmity, assassinationplots by the CIA and the demise of Soviet bloc communism.
A charismatic leader famous for his long speeches deliveredin his green military fatigues, Castro is admired in the ThirdWorld for standing up to the United States but considered byhis opponents a tyrant who suppressed freedom.
"It's incredible that 50 years of dictatorship can beaccepted by Cubans and will continue to be accepted," saidNinoska Perez of the anti-Castro Miami-based exileorganization, the Cuban Liberty Council.
Perez said Castro's retirement did not mean anything wouldchange in Cuba and the news was unlikely to bring cheer toCuban exiles waiting for an end to communism in their homelandand an opportunity to return.
"The real celebration will be when he (Castro) can nolonger write about it," she said.
Castro's illness and departure from Cuba's helm have raiseddoubts about the future of the one-party state.
"Fortunately, our Revolution can still count on cadres fromthe old guard and others who were very young in the earlystages of the process," Castro said in his statement.
"They have the authority and the experience to guaranteethe replacement," he said.
U.S. President George W. Bush, in Rwanda while on a trip toAfrica, had no immediate comment on Castro's plans to stepdown, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
Johndroe said "the president was informed" about thedevelopments with Castro and that he would receive a briefinglater. Washington has maintained a more than four-decades longeconomic embargo against Cuba to try to isolate Castro.
Castro has been seen only in pictures and video film sincehe handed over power provisionally to his brother, lookinggaunt and frail. His health improved enough a year ago to allowhim to reestablish a public presence by writing reams ofarticles published by Cuba's state press.
"This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fightas a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to writeunder the heading of 'Reflections by comrade Fidel.' It will bejust another weapon you can count on. Perhaps my voice will beheard. I shall be careful," Castro said in Tuesday's message.
Castro could remain politically influential as firstsecretary of the ruling Communist Party and elder statesman.
Raul Castro, Cuba's long-standing defence minister, has runraised expectations of economic reforms to improve the dailylot of Cubans since standing in for his brother, but he has yetto deliver.
"It was logical for Fidel to quit because he has beensaying that he is not well," said a musician leaving a cabaret."But nothing will change until the government makes economicreforms that Cuba needs," he said.
(Additional reporting by Rosa Tania Valdes in Havana,Deborah Charles in Rwanda and Michael Christie in Miami;Editing by Eric Walsh)
