the death of fidel castro drew a range of reactions from political leaders around the world, from tributes in countries with strong historical ties to cuba to criticism from some western figures. the death of mr. castro, a communist revolutionary who toppled a dictatorship in 1959 and went on to become latin america<u+2019>s longest-ruling strongman in fierce opposition to the u.s. during the cold war, was announced late<u+00a0>friday<u+00a0>by his brother, cuban president ra<u+00fa>l castro. he had been suffering from undisclosed illnesses. his tenacious survival on the doorstep of a hostile u.s. resonated across the world, particularly in countries that embraced communism. in moscow, whose strong ties with cuba during the soviet era were a defining feature of the cold war, russian president vladimir putin expressed his condolences to <u+201c>a strong and wise man who always looked in the future with confidence.<u+201d> <u+201c>the name of this outstanding government leader is rightly considered a symbol of a whole era in recent world history,<u+201d> he said in a telegram. former soviet president mikhail gorbachev said: <u+201c>fidel persevered and strengthened his country during the toughest american blockade, during immense pressure on him and still led his country out of this blockade to the road of self-sufficient independent development.<u+201d> chinese president xi jinping praised mr. castro<u+2019>s leadership of cuba and <u+201c>immortal historical achievements<u+201d> in a cable that was read out on china<u+2019>s nightly news broadcast. <u+201c>he devoted his energy all his life to the cuban people, fighting for national liberation and to protect the country<u+2019>s sovereignty, as well as the magnificent undertaking of building socialism,<u+201d> it read. <u+201c>with his passing, the chinese people have lost a close comrade and sincere friend.<u+201d> but mr. castro<u+2019>s death prompted criticism of his rule elsewhere. <u+201c>fidel castro is the last great figure of the 20th century,<u+201d> said former mexican foreign minister jorge casta<u+00f1>eda. <u+201c>he was without a doubt the most important latin american of his age, one who left his mark<u+2014>i think for the worse<u+2014>on the region.<u+201d> french president fran<u+00e7>ois hollande said mr. castro <u+201c>embodied the cuban revolution in the hopes it raised and then in the disillusionment it caused.<u+201d> european trade commissioner cecilia malmstr<u+00f6>m tweeted: <u+201c>fidel castro was a dictator who oppressed his people for 50 years. strange to hear all the tributes in the news today.<u+201d> in the u.s., where the future of president barack obama <u+2019>s effort to restore u.s. relations with cuba faces questions as both countries undergo momentous political transitions, president-elect donald trump wrote on twitter, <u+201c>fidel castro is dead!<u+201d> he added in a statement: <u+201c>though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by fidel castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.<u+201d> mr. obama, who in march became the first sitting u.s. president to visit cuba in 88 years, said americans <u+201c>extend a hand of friendship to the cuban people<u+201d> following mr. castro<u+2019>s death. in madrid, the news set off rival demonstrations saturday as anti-communist cuban exiles celebrated, even as a nearby crowd of spaniards chanted<u+201d>long live socialist cuba!<u+201d> spanish governments, conservative and socialist, have welcomed cuban exiles for decades while keeping good relations with the castro government. on saturday, spanish politicians across the spectrum issued messages of condolences for the late cuban leader. in vietnam<u+2014>which like cuba remains a one-party communist state, though its leaders have long embraced capitalism and lack the emblematic stature of mr. castro or revolutionary leader ho chi minh<u+2014>the state-controlled news agency described him as a friend and comrade dating back to the vietnam war era. <u+201c>the vietnamese people will always maintain the friendship and the solidarity between the two nations that ho chi minh and fidel castro built,<u+201d> it said. <u+201c>in the heart of every vietnamese people, the image of fidel is always a symbol of a brave revolutionary soldier fighting for independence and freedom for not only cuban people, but also for all the suppressed nations in the world,<u+201d> the agency said. north korean leader kim jong un sent a message expressing <u+201c>deep condolences<u+2026>to the cuban party, government and people.<u+201d> in a statement published by the state-controlled korean central news agency, mr. kim praised mr. castro as having <u+201c>made distinguished contributions to accomplishing the cause of independence against imperialism<u+201d> and for having <u+201c>established the socialist system where the people became the genuine masters for the first time in the western hemisphere. <u+200b><u+201d> in the philippines, where new president rodrigo duterte is attempting to distance his country from longtime ally washington, the government issued a statement describing mr. castro as <u+201c>a revolutionary who, upon assuming his island<u+2019>s highest political office, reasserted his nation<u+2019>s dignity and self-worth, stood up against the west and capitalism.<u+201d> in south africa, the ruling african national congress reacted with sadness to the passing of mr. castro, who had been a strong supporter of the party<u+2019>s antiapartheid struggle. <u+201c>comrade castro<u+2019>s leadership remains an inspiration to revolutionary movements committed to social justice world-wide,<u+201d> the anc said in a series of tweets that also included a photo of mr. castro with nelson mandela. julius malema, the leader of the left-wing opposition economic freedom fighters, tweeted: <u+201c>we love fidel castro & we are inspired by his fearless struggle against imperialism.<u+201d>
fidel castro<u+2019>s death draws condolences, criticism - wsj
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