Fidel Castro, Cuba’s former president and leader of the communist revolution died at the age 90. “The commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died at 22:29 hours this evening (03:29 GMT Saturday),” President of Cuba and brother of Fidel, Raul Castro said. Fidel Castro had ruled Cuba in a one part system for 50 years until 2008, when his brother Raul took over. President Raul Castro informed the Cuban people in a public address on state TV late at night that his brother had passed away. He said that his brother’s body would be cremated later on Saturday, while several days of mourning would be held in the island nation in his memory. Raul Castro ended the announcement by shouting the revolutionary slogan: “Towards victory, always!” Fidel Castro was the longest serving leader in the 20th century, but officially retired from active politics in 2006 due to failing health from ab acute intestinal ailment. Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 when he managed to overthrow the military leader Fulgencio Batista with his small army of guerrillas leading to widespread popular support. Two years later he declared the revolution to be Marxist-Leninist and allied with the Soviet Union, acting as a permanent thorn off the coast of the US during the Cold war. Despite the US imposing an harsh economic embargo on the island and constant threats of military invasion, Castro was able to maintain his regime, outlasting 10 US presidents.