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HAVANA-An ailing Fidel Castro took partial credit on Wednesday for firing Cuba's long-serving education minister this week, indicating that he would remain influential behind the scenes as long as he is able.Castro, who was succeeded by his younger brother Raul Castro as president this year after almost half a century at the helm, blasted former minister Luis Ignacio Gomez for being "burnt out" and "losing revolutionary consciousness."In a newspaper column, Castro laid into Gomez for traveling abroad too much and taking personal credit for advances in Cuba's education system.In the first cabinet change under Cuba's new president, Gomez was summarily replaced on Tuesday after more than 18 years on the job.Gomez was viewed as one of Fidel Castro's staunchest supporters who for the last decade had faithfully carried out educational reforms proposed by Castro and questioned by many teachers and parents.Many Cubans have criticized the decline of Cuba's vast free education system during grass roots discussions fostered by Raul Castro on the socialist state's ills."In this special and important case, in addition to my personal views, I was consulted and completely informed," Fidel Castro wrote in an article published by the ruling Communist Party newspaper Granma and other state-run media.The 81-year-old revolutionary leader has not appeared in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006 from which he never fully recovered. His whereabouts and medical condition remain state secrets.To read more go to:
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