Cuban dissidents see ray of hope in Castro retirement

Cuban dissidents expelled from the island to Spain only days ago said on Tuesday that Fidel Castro’s retirement changed little but could bring a transition to multi-party democracy nearer.

Omar Pernet, jailed in a 2003 political crackdown but freed at the weekend after a deal with Spain, had mixed reactions to news that Castro will not seek a new presidential term. He has held power since leading a guerrilla war that ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959.

“I reacted with happiness that the executioner has relaxed his iron grip,” said Pernet, a frail 62-year-old who hobbled around a Madrid hotel room on crutches due to fractures he suffered in a traffic accident during a prison transfer in 2004.”*

*From: www.reuters.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

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