Cuba celebrates Castro's birthday

Havana -- Cubans celebrated ailing leader Fidel Castro's 81st birthday Monday with a celebration in the Communist nation's capital, Havana.

Fireworks exploded over the Caribbean island city after midnight to commemorate his second birthday since falling ill and handing over authority to his brother Raul, the state newspaper Granma reported online.

Since July 2006, Raul Castro has ruled the country, though Fidel has in recent weeks appeared with several world leaders, including fellow Latin American leftist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.