Raul Castro to step down as Cuba's president in April 2018

HAVANA: Cuban President Raul Castro will step down in April 2018 straight after elections that same month to choose his successor, according to a vote Thursday in the island state's National Assembly.

The vote pushed back the date of the general elections, which were initially to be held at the end of February, because of disruption caused by a hurricane in September.

The elections will now take place on April 19.

Castro, 86, will hand over power shortly afterward to the president-elect.