KIGALI , Rwanda, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Fidel Castro's stepping down as Cuba's president should spark a "democratic transition" in the nation, U.S. President George Bush said Tuesday.
"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for democracy and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," Bush said during a news conference Tuesday in Rwanda.
Castro announced he was stepping aside as president and commander in chief for health reasons. The announcement, made in a letter published Tuesday in Cuban newspapers, came ahead of Sunday's Cuban National Assembly meeting to choose members and president of its Counsel of State.
Bush said he believed the change in leadership "ought to begin ... a democratic transition" for the island nation, CNN reported. He said the United States would help Cubans "realize the blessings of liberty."
