Fidel Castro releases his autobiography

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has released his autobiography at a closed-door ceremony here.

According to the web site walesonline.co.uk, the book contains an autobiographical section and describes his major military victory in 1959.

The book titled The Strategic Victory has yet to be released to the public.

Organisers of the Havana ceremony said 3,500 copies would be available in the coming days and 50,000 copies would eventually be published.

Castro, who will turn 84 on August 13, has made a string of near daily public appearances lately, after staying almost completely out of the public eye since having emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006.

He temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul, then stepped down as president for good in February 2008.