Castro's ashes return to cradle of revolution

The convoy carrying the ashes of Cuba's late communist leader Fidel Castro ends an island-wide journey today in the cradle of his revolution for a big ceremony before his burial.
After the flag-draped cedar urn spent the night in a military barracks in the city of Bayamo, a jeep pulled the ashes toward their final destination in Santiago de Cuba.
Crowds lined the roads for a fourth day to bid farewell to the former president who ruled with an iron fist for almost half a century.
President Raul Castro, who took over when his brother fell ill in 2006, will deliver a much-awaited speech during a massive tribute with foreign dignitaries in the eastern city this evening.

Capping a nine-day mourning period, the remains will be interred in a private ceremony tomorrow at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where 19th century independence hero Jose Marti is buried.
Fidel Castro's death on November 25 at age 90 has fuelled discussions about his divisive legacy and the direction that the country may take without the omnipresent leader, who ruled for almost half a century.

Tearful supporters have cheered Fidel Castro for the free education and health care he spread in the island, while detractors call him a brutal dictator who imprisoned dissidents and ran the economy to the ground.
People put up posters of Castro as Santiago prepared to welcome the convoy, which has been greeted by massive crowds chanting "viva Fidel!" since Wednesday, when the funeral procession left Havana on a 900-kilometre trip.

"He has been the father of all Cubans and all the people in need in the world," said Margarita Aguilera, the 54-year- old director of a state tobacco company who painted the words "farewell, comandante" on a white stone in front of a house.
Enediel Rodriguez, 50, was helping prepare a public hall yesterday where mourners will be able to watch the jeep arriving with the ashes before they go out on the street.
"He will rest in Santiago de Cuba because Marti is our national apostle and this was his idea, to rest here next to him," Rodriguez said.

The government had already led a huge rally with two dozen foreign presidents in Havana on Tuesday, but Santiago holds a special place in Castro's life.
On July 26, 1953, the Castro brothers launched a failed attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago.