Fidel Castro sits in on Cuba's new parliament session

HAVANA - Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro made a rare public appearance Sunday at the first session of the new National Assembly of People's Power, which is expected to reelect his brother Raul Castro to a second five-year term as president.

Fidel, 86, who retired in 2006 for health reasons and was last seen February 3, cast his vote in general elections that saw him elected deputy to the assembly for Cuba's second-largest city Santiago de Cuba, some 860 kilometers east of the capital Havana.

Raul, who took over from his brother in 2006 and was elected leader in 2008, also attended the inaugural session Sunday of Cuba 's highest legislative body.

Through secret balloting, deputies are set to elect the 31 members of the Council of State, including the office of the president, vice president and secretary of the assembly.

The State Council in turn elects the president. If Raul Castro is reelected, it will be to his second and last term, since he recently spearheaded a law that established term limits.

Castro, who turns 82 in June, indicated Friday that he was considering retirement.

"I'm going to turn 82, I have a right to retire already," Castro told reporters at a public event marking the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

"You don't believe me? Why are you so incredulous?" he added, telling reporters to pay close attention to his speech Sunday at the end of the National Assembly meeting. "It will be an interesting speech. Pay attention," he said.