Communist revolutionary Fidel Castro dies aged 90: Brother Raul announces former Cuban president's death on state television just months after he said he 'would die soon'

Fidel Castro, who led the country of Cuba for nearly half a century, died Friday at the age of 90. Raul Castro announced his brother's death on state television and said he will be cremated on Saturday. Castro led Cuba for nearly half a century as both prime minister and president. The controversial leader made his last official appearance before the country's Communist party in April and predicted that his death was near. He claimed in the past to have survived 634 assassination attempts, mainly masterminded by the CIA. Castro was 32 when he overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista's government in 1959. The US severed diplomatic ties in 1961, banning all exports to Cuba except for food and medicine. Castro's brother Raul and President Obama moved to restore diplomatic ties in December 2014.