MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US: “there's no figure in Cuba to match Fidel Castro”

The United States top diplomat for Latin American affairs said that Fidel Castro's decision to “temporarily” hand over power to his brother after undergoing surgery indicates the Cuban leader's condition is “serious”.

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs, Thomas Shannon anticipated that in the short term, Cubans may have to endure a period of "regime hardening", but anticipated that Castro's plans to pass his mantle on to brother Raul, now Cuba's Defence minister and vice president, will ultimately fail.

"The transfer won't work" forecasted the Assistant Secretary. "Ultimately, there is no political figure inside Cuba who matches Fidel Castro".

Shannon said the United States will continue its efforts to foster a democratic transition in Cuba regardless of what happens with Fidel Castro.

The man who has led Cuba without interruption since taking power in January 1959 announced on July 31 in a statement read over state television, he was "provisionally" transferring power to his brother while recovering from surgery to stop intestinal bleeding.

Neither of the Castro brothers has been seen since, though there are speculations that Fidel might try a Sunday (August 13) appearance for his 80th birthday.

Cuban officials have limited themselves to bland comments about their leader's steady recovery, but one of Castro's closest allies in the hemisphere, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said Thursday that his friend "is waging a great battle for his life".

"It is a battle that I know, Fidel, you will also win" Chavez said at an event in Caracas. However the State Department admits is has no information about Castro's condition beyond what is publicly available from Cuban officials.

"Obviously as you know, we're talking about a closed, almost secretive society. The Cuban leadership is not generally in the habit of offering insights into either Fidel's health or the condition of other senior members of the group" said State Department spokesperson Casey who emphasized on the post-Fidel era.

"I think what's important for us to remember is that whether it is Fidel Castro or Raul Castro or other members of the regime, what we want to see is Cuba move away from dictatorship and move towards democracy".