U.S. Secretary of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak to the Cuban people in a recorded message, imploring them to embrace democracy at a time when President Fidel Castro's nearly fifty-year rule has come to an end. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the message will be carried on Radio and TV Marti, two U.S.-funded broadcasting operations that target Cuba. Castro transferred most of his powers to his brother Raul earlier this week-the first ever transfer of power from the dictator. Castro did so after undergoing surgery for intestinal bleeding, and has not been seen in public since. McCormack also said Friday that the U.S. government has established an inter-agency task-force to monitor the situation in Cuba. Bush administration officials are reportedly eager to avoid a mass exodus from Cuba during this period of political transition.
