Castro death draws condolences from Portuguese president

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent his condolences to Cuba on Saturday following news that Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has died.

"On finding out that the former head of state in Cuba, Comandante Fidel Castro, has died, I want to express my sincere condolences to the President Raul Castro Ruz and to the Cuban people," he said in an official statement on his website.

"I also evoke the meeting we had a month ago, in which we discussed relations with Portugal and Cuba, to develop economic, social and cultural strengthening during a time of change," Rebelo de Sousa added.

Rebelo de Sousa visited Cuba in October, where he met with officials and laid out a floral wreath before the statue of famous poet Jose Marti, at the capital's Plaza de la Revolucion.

Other leaders in Portugal also sent condolences to the former Cuban head of state, with the head of Portugal's rightist party CDS-PP, Assuncao Cristas, pointing out that Castro's death marked a "historic moment" and would be an opportunity for the island to normalize relations with the rest of the world.

The country's Left Bloc transmitted its solidarity with the Cuban people, saying he was one of the most important figures of the 20th century and leader of a victorious revolution. Endit