Fidel Castro, the former Cuban dictator, turns 88 on 13 August 2014. He served as the island's prime minister from 1959 to 1976, and then as president from 1976, until ill health forced him to hand over power to his brother Raul in 2008.

Together with Ernesto "Che" Guevara and a guerrilla force, Castro fought against the regime of General Batista, ousting him 31 December 1958.