Fidel Castro leaves Cuba stage to brother Raul

By Anthony Boadle

HAVANA (Reuters) - Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro will play the role of elder statesman after nearly 50 years of absolute rule of Cuba, leaving the stage clear for his brother Raul Castro to assert himself.

Fidel Castro, who stepped down on Tuesday as president and commander-in-chief of Cuba's armed forces, stays on as first secretary of the ruling Communist Party and will continue to hold forth on domestic and world affairs in articles.

"We will continue waiting for the 'Reflections of Comrade Fidel', which will be a powerful arsenal of ideas and guidance," the party newspaper Granma said on Wednesday.

Castro, 81 and in poor health, will now be known as "comrade Fidel" instead of "El Comandante", as he has long been called, an indication that times are changing half a century after the bearded revolutionary seized power in 1959.

Castro's retirement appeared to be the final stage of a carefully laid transition to Raul Castro, dashing the hopes of their enemies that Fidel Castro's end would send thousands of Cubans onto the streets to demand democratic reforms.

"Raul is the man of the hour. He is firmly in charge. Fidel is off-stage. The Fidel era is over," said Brian Latell, a former CIA analyst and author of a book on Cuba's next leader called "After Fidel".

Raul Castro has provisionally held power since his brother underwent emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006. He is expected to be chosen as president when the rubber-stamp National Assembly meets on Sunday.

Cuba faces big problems from a weak economy to decrepit transportation and a frustrated younger generation, Latell said in Miami, adding that Raul Castro would address them in a diligent way.

"He's a problem solver. Fidel couldn't admit to problems in the first place. There's no doubt that Raul is running Cuba," Latell said.

HOW MUCH OF A REFORMER?

It is unclear how much of a reformer Raul Castro will be.

He has been his brother's closest advisor since they were guerrilla fighters in the Sierra Maestra mountains and had a reputation as a hardliner who could be brutal with his enemies. But he is also seen as a good manager and delegator.

Analysts say Fidel Castro's continued presence behind the scenes will ensure a certain caution as his brother considers economic reforms.

University student and Communist Youth leaders said on Wednesday they would continue studying and applying Fidel Castro's ideas as "the leader of the Revolution" if not the head of state anymore.

"We young Cubans, above all, believe in Fidel and trust his decision. Even though it is painful to accept, it could be best for the country," Patricia Flechilla, head of the University Students Federation, said on a state television newscast.