Raul Castro named as Cuba's new leader

Raul Castro became Cuba's new president on Sunday, succeeding his sick and elderly brother Fidel Castro, who retired five days ago after 49 years at the helm of the West's last communist country.

Cuba's rubber-stamp National Assembly picked Raul Castro, 76, as head of state at the top of the executive Council of State, but in a surprise move hardline communist Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 77, was named first vice president, or Cuba's deputy leader. (Reuters)