Fidel Castro's future to be decided on February 24

Jan 21, 2008, 7:40 GMT

Havana - The suspense of Fidel Castro's political future is set to be solved on February 24, when the new Cuban National Assembly holds its first meeting after Sunday's elections.

The 31 members of the communist country's Council of State, whose president is also Cuba's head of state and government, are set to be chosen from among legislators at that session. It will then be known whether or not the ailing Castro, 81, remains Cuban leader.

Castro temporarily relinquished power in July 2006 to his brother, Raul Castro, in order to undergo surgery for an intestinal ailment. The elder Castro has not returned to power or appeared in public since, and he admitted this week that he lacks the 'physical ability' necessary to appear in public.

As he cast his own vote Sunday, Raul Castro confirmed that the first session of the legislature is set for February 24.

Fidel Castro himself voted early in the day from the undisclosed location where he is convalescing, Cuban state-run television reported. A newscaster read out a letter from Castro.

'I had the privilege that a member of my voting centre visited me, as well as others in similar circumstances,' Castro said.

Cuban legislation allows election officials to visit voters who are physically unable to travel to cast ballots.

More than 8 million Cubans over the age of 16 went to the polls to elect 614 legislators from a list with the same number of candidates. There were no opposition choices on the ballot.

It was possible that the results would not issued Sunday, though it was considered certain that Fidel Castro would obtain a seat in the National Assembly, Cuba's unicameral congress.

Several government officials stressed their support for Castro as head of state as they cast their ballots.

National Assembly Speaker Ricardo Alarcon noted that he would vote for the longtime leader 'any day ... with both hands.'

Alarcon, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and interim leader Raul Castro are considered the top candidates to become permanent successors if Fidel Castro steps down permanently.

At the polls, Cubans also voted Sunday for provincial legislators.

Cuban authorities, led by the convalescent Castro, had called upon citizens to exercise the 'united vote' - a formula that allows them to approve all candidates on the ballot by marking just one box. This formula is tacitly understood as a show of support for the communist government.

Cuban dissidents and foreign critics call the election a farce.