Washington, March 1, SPA -- Fidel Castro said Friday he helped select candidates for Cuba’s new government, but he stressed that his brother Raul is fully in charge as the new president. In his first comments since his brother assumed the presidency last weekend, the elder Castro appeared to be trying to end speculation that he would continue directing his brother. In an essay published in the Communist Party newspaper Granma, Fidel Castro described his role in selecting the governing body his brother now heads as president. He did not mention involvement in any decision-making since Raul assumed permanent power. Raul Castro has “all legal and constitutional faculties and prerogatives” to lead Cuba, Fidel Castro wrote. He said both he and his brother were consulted when the parliament’s nominating committee came up with the candidates for the Council of State, Cuba’s supreme governing authority.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/531866