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Silence from Havana about Castro

The United States are hoping for calm in both Havana and Miami, as rumors about Cuban ruler Fidel Castro?s health abound on both sides of the strait separating the American mainland from the island of Cuba, which Castro has ruled with an iron fist since 1959. For the first time in his 47 years of rule, Castro handed over rule and with it command of the Communist Party and the Cuban military to his 75-year-old brother, Raul. Mr. Castro himself is 79, and is due to turn 80 on August 13.

While statements attributed to Mr. Castro have been released by Havana, neither President Castro or Raul Castro has been seen in public since last Monday. The U.S. recently announced a plan for helping Cuba become a democracy after Castro?s death, but at the moment Washington has made every effort to reassure the Cuban government that no invasion is planned due to the perceived vulnerability of the ruling elements. The Bush Administration has walked a careful line since the announcements first came out of Havana that the Cuban president was in surgery and had handed over rule ?temporarily? to his brother.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice took to the airwaves over the weekend to reassure Cubans that the USA was behind them and would help them in whatever way they wished. The United States worry that Castro?s death and chaos on the island in its wake could lead to masses of refugees attempting to enter America, which has a ?reach land, enter the country? view of illegal immigration from Communist Cuba. Meanwhile, no news is coming out of Havana, with the government stating that Castro?s health is a ?state secret? and not granting accreditation to those requesting a journalist?s visa from outside of the country.