Fidel Castro through the years

Cuban President Fidel Castro tries on a pair of sunglasses as he talks to the media November 16, 1999 in Havana, during the IX Iberoamerican Summit. The summit was the biggest international gathering hosted by Cuba since 1979.  (AFP/Getty, Christophe Simon)

Fidel Castro (R) chats with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat before the opening session of the Group of 77 South Summit in Havana, April 12, 2000. Twenty-seven heads of State and 15 prime ministers from the Group attended the summit.  (AFP/Getty, Adalberto Roque)

Cuban President Fidel Castro waves a flag during a visit to the Havana neighborhood of San Jose de las Lajas, Jan. 2001. Castro spoke about the U.S. administration of George W. Bush and the recent diplomatic crisis over the arrest in Havana of two Czech citizens charged with subversion.  (AFP/Getty, Adalberto Roque)

Cuban President Fidel Castro speaks during a meeting with former South African President Nelson Mandela at Mandela’s office in Johannesburg, September 2001. Castro who took part in the UN World Racism conference in Durban used the opportunity to visit Mandela.  (AFP/Getty, Yoav Lemmer)

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Cuban President Fidel Castro hold their hats to their hearts during the playing of their respective national anthems prior to an all-star baseball game, May 2002, in Havana.   (AFP/Getty, Adalberto Roque)

Cuban President Fidel Castro, center, trips after a speech at a graduation ceremony in Santa Clara, Cuba.   (AP/ APTN)

Cuban President Fidel Castro poses with shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez, whose custody battle morphed into a US-Cuban political wrestling match, after presiding over a massive May Day demonstration at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolucion on May 1st, 2005.   (AFP/Getty Images)