Fidel Castro back in uniform

HAVANA: Cuban leader Fidel Castro appeared in his full military uniform for the first time since stepping down as President four years ago.

The 84-year-old revolutionary leader wore the olive-green cap and uniform — minus the star and laurels he held as Commander-in-Chief — at a speech early on Friday to students at the University of Havana.

Warning

Mr. Castro repeated his warning that the world stands on the brink of a nuclear conflagration due to tension pitting the United States and Israel against Iran. But Friday's 35-minute speech to thousands of students assembled on and in front of the majestic stairway leading to the historic university was by far Mr. Castro's most significant. Previously, Mr. Castro has mostly spoken in closed sessions to small groups, and his appearances were usually not announced ahead of time.

Mr. Castro — who began his political career as a student activist at the same university 60 years ago — said it had fallen to his tiny island to warn the world of the looming nuclear threat, and that it was important that it did not fail.

“Faced with the sceptics, our duty is to keep up the fight,” said Mr. Castro. “I am convinced that a good number of people are becoming conscious of the reality.” “In this, like in many battles of the past, we can win,” he said of his efforts to warn the world of the nuclear danger.

At Friday's speech, he was introduced as Cuba's “historic leader” and “Commander-in-Chief.” — AP