CUBA: Castro Death Watch Extends Into Wednsday

Splits within the Castro family as Reuters points out, the agency also says that Cubans adjust to life without Fidel in charge

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Vice President Carlos Lage was meeting in Bogota with heads of state attending the inauguration of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to update them on Castro's "positive recovery" from surgery for intestinal bleeding

The return to normal was not quite complete because the government kept police and security forces, including military reservists, on alert.

Along the coast, authorities urged residents to watch for an invasion force from Castro's arch enemy, the United States.

Situation in Santiago, according to the Miami Herald is more tense than in Havana

Many believe that Raúl Castro is more brutal than his brother, he said. Raúl, who ordered scores of executions in this region after Castro-led guerrillas toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, also has not appeared in public since last week.

''He should talk to the people,'' said a musician also named Raúl. But he added, ``He knows they will not accept him. The people do not want him. The politicians don't want him. He's Fidel's brother, but he's not Fidel.''

CBS News Reports: Producer Portia Siegelbaum On What It's Like Reporting From Inside Cuba:

The three major American networks, CBS, NBC and ABC, are here under a wink and a nod from island officials. I’m not allowed to hang a sign reading “CBS News” on the door to my office and there’s no desk for a permanent correspondent.

So Portia, where is Raul?
None of the officials—and I can count them on one hand—who have spoken to us on the ground have personally seen or spoken to the ailing president. And acting President Raul Castro has not been seen publicly since his older brother stepped aside. So it’s very hard to get a handle on just what the situation is.

But while there’s a hermetic silence in Castro’s inner circle, it’s relatively easy to interview ordinary Cubans. As a people they’re warm and friendly and easy to form friendships with. And while everyone is not willing to go on camera almost everyone will speak on background..

We’ve also have what to some might be considered surprising access to the anti-Castro dissidents. We have not been prevented from speaking to them either in person or by phone. However, as a rule, such interviews are hand-carried out of Cuba. Why? For the simple reason that the Cuban State totally controls all the technology normally used for transmitting information out of here.

The good life in Havana: Cuba's green revolution Cuba's Military is High On The Hog, according to the UK's Independent.,
Cuba's military men loyal to Raul Castro says the AP.<

Hugo Chavez Is Faithful to Fidel, says Alexandra Star in Salon

Maria Elena Salinas, Says that Citizens will be key to post-Castro Cuba