Castro turns

A look at the life of former Cuban president Fidel Castro

1960 Forms close alliance with Soviet Union, led by Khrushchev. All U.S. interests in Cuba nationalized without compensation. U.S. breaks o diplomatic relations 1961 U.S. sponsors abortive invasion by 1,300 CIAtrained Cuban exiles at Bay of Pigs misjudging Cuban support for Castro 1926 Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz born August 13 on familys sugar plantation near Biran 1945-50 Graduates from University of Havana as lawyer. Becomes involved in revolutionary politics in Colombia 1952 Parliamentary candidate election cancelled after coup led by General Fulgencio Batista 1953 Castro leads unsuccessful revolt in July 26 attack on Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Castro and younger brother Ral taken prisoner released two years later as part of general amnesty 1955 Relocates to Mexico to reorganize 26th of July Movement into disciplined guerrilla force Dec. 2, 1956 Castro (right) and small band of rebels sail to Cuba in yacht Granma 1991 Collapse of Soviet Union leads to crippling nancial hardship in Cuba 1993 U.S. tightens 30-year embargo on Cuba. To boost failing economy, Castro legalizes U.S. dollar and allows limited individual private enterprise 1994 U.S. agrees to admit 20,000 Cubans each year in return for Cuba halting exodus of refugees 1996 U.S. trade embargo made permanent after Cuba shoots down two U.S. aircraft piloted by Cuban exiles 2000 Castro wins seven-month ght to return six-year-old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez from 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brings world Florida to his homeland to brink of nuclear war only resolved when 2002 U.S. adds Cuba Soviets agree to remove missiles in return to axis of evil for withdrawal of U.S. missiles from Turkey 2003 Harsh crackdown on Castros critics draws international condemnation Jul 2006 After emergency surgery July 2006 surgery, Castro hands temporary control to Ral

IN MINUTES

85
In 2005, Forbes listed Castro among the worlds richest people, with an estimated

News and events visually

2008 Feb. 24, The National Assembly of People's Power unanimously chose his brother, Ral Castro, as Fidel's successor as President of Cuba. 2010 Aug. 7, Castro gives his rst speech to the Cuban National Assembly in four years. 2011 April 19, Castro resigns from the Communist Party central committee, thus stepping down as leader of the party. Ral Castro was selected as his successor.

Former Cuban president Fidel Castro

UNITED STATES FLORIDA

Rebels routed. 12 survivors including Ral and Ernesto Che Guevara (above left) take to Sierra Maestra mountains to wage guerrilla war 1959 Castro leads 9,000-strong guerrilla army into Havana, forcing Batista to ee. Becomes Prime Minister
Pictures: Associated Press

President John F. Kennedy announces dismantling of Soviet bases, Nov. 2, 1962 1976 Communist Party of Cuba approves new socialist constitution Castro elected president 1976-81 Cuban military supports proSoviet forces in Angola and Ethiopia 1980 Refugee crisis some 125,000 Cubans ee to U.S. via port of Mariel

Feb. 19, 2008 Castro announces he will not accept another term as president. He has not been seen since 2006, leaving many questioning his health.

NET WORTH OF $550 MILLION US,

later upping that to $900M US, with stashes in Switzerland. Castro said the claims were lies and slander.

100km 62 miles
Mariel Pinar del Ro Havana

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MEXICO

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BAHAMAS

C U B A
Santa Clara Camaguey Biran Guantanamo Bay (U.S.)

Bay of Pigs

CARIBBEAN SEA

Sierra Maestra Santiago de Cuba

GRAPHIC NEWS

Longest ruling non-royal leaders

49 Years
Fidel Castro

46
Chiang Kai-shek

45
Kim II-sung

41
Moammar Gadha

41
Omar Bongo

40
Enver Hoxha

39
Franciso Franco

37
Gnassingbe Eyadema

36
Josip Broz Tito

36
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar

36
Paul Biya

35
Todor Zhivkov

34
Felix HouphouetBoigny

Sources: Wikipedia; Graphics News

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA MARTIN/QMI AGENCY