Fidel Castro death: Cuban dissidents call off weekly march

Cuba’s most prominent dissident group has called off its traditional protest for the first time in 13 years following the death of the country’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

The Ladies in White say the decision is to avoid tensions.

The group, founded by wives of jailed dissidents, has long defied a protest ban in Cuba with a weekly march.

Castro died on Friday at the age of 90. Flags are flying at half mast as the country observes nine days of mourning.

From Monday, people will be able to pay their respects at memorials and rallies before Castro’s ashes are taken to Santiago de Cuba where he launched his bid for power.

And a mass public ceremony is planned at Havana’s Revolutionary Square on Tuesday.