The resignation of Cuban leader Fidel Castro may open the door for his brother, Raul, to officially take over the communist government.

古巴领导人菲德尔.卡斯特罗辞职，为他的弟弟劳尔.卡斯特罗可能正式接管共产党政府铺平道路。

The announcement by Fidel Castro comes only days before officials are to select the island's top ruling body, the Council of State. The 81-year-old leader is expected to remain on the 31-member ruling council, but says he will not compete for the top post.

就在古巴即将选举该国最高领导机构国务委员会成员的几天之前，菲德尔.卡斯特罗发表了不再寻求领导职务的声明。预计，81岁的卡斯特罗仍将保留国务委员会委员的职位。古巴国务委员会是由31位国务委员组成。但是卡斯特罗说，他不再寻求担任最高领导人的职务。

Cuban state television read a letter from Mr. Castro in which he said he is physically unable to fulfill the duties of president.

古巴国营电视台宣读了卡斯特罗致古巴人民的一封信。他在信中说他的身体状况使他不能胜任国务委员会主席的职务。

In the letter, Mr. Castro says he will not seek and will not accept the post of president and commander-in-chief.

卡斯特罗在信中说他不再寻求和接受国务委员会主席和武装部队总司令的职务。

For months, Mr. Castro's failing health has raised questions about the political future of the island and the man who ruled it for nearly 50 years. The Cuban president underwent intestinal surgery in July 2006, and handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul.

几个月来，卡斯特罗健康情况日益衰弱，引起了人们对古巴这个岛国未来政治前景的关注。卡斯特罗统治古巴近50年之久。他于2006年7月作了肠道手术，随后把政权暂时移交给他的弟弟劳尔.卡斯特罗。

Many analysts say Raul, 76, is the most likely to succeed Fidel Castro as Cuba's president and would retain many of his older brother's political and economic policies.

许多分析人士认为，76岁的劳尔是最可能接替菲德尔.卡斯特罗担任古巴国务委员会主席的人选。他也将维持菲德尔.卡斯特罗的许多政治和经济政策。

In Miami, critics of the Cuban government welcomed the news of Mr. Castro's resignation early Tuesday.

在迈阿密，批评古巴政府的人士则对星期二早上宣布的卡斯特罗辞职的消息表示欢迎。

Democracy activist Ramon Saul Sanchez said the announcement is good news for advocates of democratic change in Cuba.

民主活动人士桑切斯表示，卡斯特罗的声明对古巴境内致力于民主变革的人士是好消息。

"Frankly the fact that Castro has ceded all political powers at this point is an inspiration not only to us but to those inside of Cuba, the elements of change within the regime itself, that want to see some other direction for the country," he said.

桑切斯说：“坦白的说，卡斯特罗在这个时刻放弃了所有政治权力，不但鼓舞了我们，也鼓舞了古巴境内的人士，鼓舞了古巴政权内部要求变革的因素，它们期望古巴改变发展的方向。”

Sanchez says he does not believe a transition to Raul Castro will bring immediate change to the lives of Cuba's 11 million people. But he says pressure for broad reform on the next Cuban leader, from inside Cuba and outside, will grow.

桑切斯说，他并不相信把政权移交给劳尔.卡斯特罗会立即给古巴1100万人民的生活带来变化。可是他说，来自古巴境内和境外要求古巴下任领导人进行广泛改革的压力将会增加。

"This is the beginning of a new direction, probably a first step in a new direction, that could end up in more reforms," said Sanchez.

桑切斯说：“这是一个新的发展方向的开端，可能是一个新的发展方向的头一个步骤，进而导致更多的改革。”

Earlier, President Bush said the international community should work with Cuba's people to bring about a democratic transition on the island.

美国总统布什早些时候说，国际社会应当和古巴人民共同努力为这个岛国带来民主变革。