Aug 24, 2007 11:44 pm US/Eastern
Miami Rumors Of Castro's Death Swirl At Full Speed
by Natalia Zea
LITTLE HAVANA (CBS4) ―
If you're Cuban or have any link to Miami's Cuban community, chances are your phone might have rung off the hook with the infamous rumors of Fidel Castro's death.
Regardless, CBS4 has not been able to confirm his death, but you'd never know that on the streets of Miami.
The official word in Cuba is that Castro is still very much alive.
Premature rumors of Castro's death are a staple in this heavily Cuban-exile city. But their frequency has intensified in recent days after his birthday came and went August 13 with neither pictures, letters nor recordings from him.
Friday, the rumors were pushed into overdrive by a meeting of local officials to go over their plans for when Castro really dies and a road closure in the Florida Keys that was actually due to a police standoff.
A circular game ensued with radio stations reporting the rumors, citing TV stations, which cited the rumors on the street.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
