Cuba celebrates 49th anniversary of Castro's Havana triumph

AFP, January 9, 2008

HAVANA (AFP) - - With fireworks, outdoor speeches and a message from their ailing iconic leader, Cubans late Tuesday celebrated President Fidel Castro's triumphal entry into Havana 49 years ago at the head of his revolution.

"I cannot forget that on a day like today I had the honor of being welcomed by the people of this capital 49 years ago," Castro, 81, said in a statement read out on television to mark the occasion.

Thousands of revelers gathered at the La Punta square opposite the Tres Reyes del Morro castle to see the sky lit up by fireworks and attend cultural events on "Illuminated by Victory" night organized by the Union of Communist Youths (UJC).

As expected, the celebrations did not include an appearance by Castro, who has only been seen on television since he underwent gastrointestinal surgery in July 2006 and handed over power "temporarily" to his brother Raul, 76.

A power boat criss-crossed Havana Bay pulling a huge lighted sign bearing "Viva Fidel," on one side, and "Viva Raul" on the the other.

"Cuba's youth makes a gift of this event to all Cuba. We'll light up the city like (Castro's) victory lit up our people forever 49 years ago," UJC chief Cesar Hernandez told a cheering crowd.

On January 1, 1959 Castro and his communist guerrillas overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista (1952-1958) and took a triumphal, week-long tour of the country from east to west with his men that ended in Havana, where he took power.