Raul Castro calls Fidel 'irreplaceable'

HAVANA, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Cuban leader Raul Castro said his brother and longtime Cuban President Fidel Castro was "irreplaceable" and denied he would emulate Fidel's leadership style.

Raul, who assumed control of the communist island in July after Fidel announced he underwent gastro-intestinal surgery, told a group of students that the communist regime would continue unabated under his leadership, Granma newspaper reported Thursday.

The new Cuban leader has said he would be willing to work toward cooling hostilities between his nation and Washington. Earlier this month, a delegation of 10 U.S. lawmakers visited Cuba and met with some senior officials, though reportedly not with Raul.