(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-24 11:40

Leaders of Cuba's 14 provinces on Saturday praised Fidel Castro's resignation offer as "wise" and "self-giving".

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

In a letter to Castro, the leaders said Castro's resignation letter was a "historic document", and that his offer to step down was a "wise" and "self-giving" decision made by a person who "devoted himself to the development of his country and did not rest for even an hour."

Castro announced his retirement on Tuesday, after some 50 years in office. He said he would not seek reelection of the president of the Council of State and commander in chief but will definitely communicate his thoughts with Cuban citizens through a newspaper column titled "Reflections of Comrade Fidel."