The News
Thursday 28 of March 2024

Fidel Castro's ashes arrive in eastern city of Santiago


Soldiers push the jeep and trailer carrying the ashes of the late Fidel Castro after the jeep briefly stopped working during Castro's funeral procession near Moncada Fort in Santiago, Cuba, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016,photo: AP/Rodrigo Abd
Soldiers push the jeep and trailer carrying the ashes of the late Fidel Castro after the jeep briefly stopped working during Castro's funeral procession near Moncada Fort in Santiago, Cuba, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016,photo: AP/Rodrigo Abd
Mourning for Castro has reached near-religious peaks of public adulation across Cuba since his death

Fidel Castro’s ashes have arrived in the eastern city of Santiago, ending a four-day journey across Cuba.

Thousands of people welcomed the leader’s remains to shouts of “Fidel! I am Fidel!” The 90-year-old former president died Nov. 25. He will be remembered in a nationally televised service led by his brother, President Raul Castro, Saturday evening. His ashes will be interred Sunday morning, ending a nine-day mourning period.

Mourning for Castro has reached near-religious peaks of public adulation across Cuba since his death, particularly in rural eastern Cuba. Huge crowds have been shouting his name and lining the roads to salute the funeral procession carrying his ashes from Havana to Santiago.