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Cubans say goodbye to Castro with 900km parade

A wailing woman was one of thousands lining the famous Malecon seaside boulevard to pay their respects as Castro's remains began their journey from Havana.

A wailing woman was one of thousands lining the famous Malecon seaside boulevard to pay their respects as Castro's remains began their journey from Havana. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/ Getty

Fidel Castro’s remains have started their 900km journey across Cuba from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, where he will be buried on Sunday.

Fidel Castro ashes

The caravan containing the ashes of Fidel Castro. Photo: Sven Creutzmann/Getty

A caravan of military and police vehicles is carrying the flag–draped chest containing his ashes.

The country is in the midst of nine days of mourning after the 90-year-old former president died on November 25.

Earlier a crowded Revolution Square bore witness to endless speeches on the leader, with farewell messages from leaders across the world serving as the last echo of the Cuban Revolution commander in the capital.

Fidel Castro funeral procession

A convoy escorts the remains of former President Fidel Castro at the start of a 900km journey across the country. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty

Thousands of people flooded the streets, some calm while others were in tears, holding flags and placards to pay their final respects to Mr Castro.

The soft murmur before the ceremony turned into reverent silence as Fidel’s brother and President Raul Castro arrived with solemn bearing and in military uniform, and he was soon received with strong applause.

The same applause was heard once again nearly four hours later, after 18 speeches, when Raul went up to the podium to pay his final respects to his deceased brother.

Leaders and friends of Mr Castro, such as Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega, remembered the commander and his fight for equality, his defence of the oppressed and freeing of the people.

The attendees, many of them being tired and lying on the ground, were back on their feet again to listen to their president.

“His vibrant words resonate today in this square,” Mr Castro said before recalling some of the historic events that took place in this iconic location in Havana, including key moments of the Cuban Revolution.

“Fidel devoted his entire life to solidarity, led a socialist revolution of the humble, by the humble and for the humble, became a symbol of the anti-colonial, anti-apartheid, anti-imperialist struggle, for emancipation and dignity of people,” the president said.

‘I owe a lot to Fidel’

“I could not miss it. I owe a lot to Fidel and the Revolution. I started working selling newspapers but managed to graduate in accounting,” said Rufino, 80, who spent the four hours of the ceremony alternatively resting on his crutch and his folding chair.

Amanda, 16, representing the younger generations, recalled how she burst into tears when her mother told her on November 25 of Fidel’s demise.

Fidel Castro funeral procession

A woman looks on as the military parade passes. Photo: Ernesto Mastrascusa/Getty

“It’s a matter of pride to be here to say goodbye to the commander, who is like a father for all Cubans,” said the high school student, who spent the night at the Square.

Sunday’s funeral will be held before an international cast of dignitaries, although the gathering will be light on the top leadership from the western world.

The US said it would not send an official delegation but that its acting ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis and national security advisor Ben Rhodes would attend.

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