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Castro says he's relaxed before retirement

HAVANA, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro said he is glad to be retiring follow his announcement this week that he would not seek re-election.

The 81-year-old Castro said he has slept "better than ever" since then, and that he had "promised himself a vacation," the communist island's official newspaper Granma reported Friday.

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Cuban officials are scheduled to meet Sunday to elect a successor to Castro. His younger brother Raul Castro is considered the most likely candidate.

Fidel Castro anointed Raul Castro Cuba's interim leader in July 2006 after he announced he was suffering from an undisclosed gastro-intestinal illness.

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