(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-22 15:01

HAVANA -- Cuban leader Fidel Castro was re-elected as a deputy to the National Assembly of the People's Power, the head of the National Election Commission said Monday.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro poses in this photo taken by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their meeting in Havana January 15, 2008. [Agencies]

Castro, 81, who has been convalescing for 17 months following intestinal hemorrhage, was among the 614 national assembly deputies and 1,201 provincial assembly deputies chosen in Sunday's legislative elections, Maria Reus, also the justice minister, told a press conference releasing the election results.

Sunday's vote was the second round in the election which began in October 2007. Deputies to the city-level assemblies were elected in the first round.

Calling Sunday's elections "a complete success," Reus said, citing a 96-percent turnout.

Some 8.23 million valid ballots were received, she said, noting there are more than 8.5 million registered voters in the country.

Under Cuba's constitution, the National Assembly of the People's Power is the supreme organ of state and the sole legislative authority.

The national assembly elects 31 of its members to form the Council of State, the assembly's permanent organ and the highest representative body of the state.

Elections to the national and provincial assemblies take place every five years.