MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Castro jokes he won't be in office at age 100

Three weeks before his 80th birthday, Cuban President Fidel Castro has joked that he has no plans to be in power when he is 100 years old.

Castro spoke to 100,000 people at a rally in the eastern city of Bayamo, Cuba, on the anniversary of the assault he led on a military garrison in 1953 that sparked his revolution.

Mr Castro said more Cubans were reaching 100 thanks to his government's social services.

"But, our little neighbors to the north should not fear, I am not planning to be in office at that age," the left-wing firebrand said.

The Cuban leader has outlasted nine U.S. presidents and survived CIA assassination plots, invasion attempts and the collapse of his Soviet bloc benefactors.

Castro's advancing age -- his pace has slowed since a bad fall two years ago-- has led his enemies to sharpen their knives in preparation for the day he departs the scene.

The Bush administration announced earlier this month it was tightening sanctions on Cuba and adding $80 million to efforts to build opposition to Castro's one-party state on the island.

Washington hopes to prevent a succession headed by younger brother Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister.

Castro said the United States should stop meddling and look after its own social problems, boasting that Cuba's infant mortality of 6.5 per thousand was lower than the U.S. rate.