A look at Raul Castro's life

NAME: Raul Castro Ruz

TITLES: Elected president of Council of State and Council of Ministers on Sunday, still second secretary of Communist Party of Cuba. He had been named Cuba's provisional president and head of the Communist Party by his brother Fidel Castro on July 31, 2006.

BORN: June 3, 1931, in Cuba's Oriente province, fourth of seven children

EDUCATION: Attended Roman Catholic schools and studied administration at University of Havana

BEFORE THE REVOLUTION: Raul joined older brother Fidel in effort to topple President Fulgencio Batista with unsuccessful raid on military barracks. Both arrested, later freed in general amnesty. Surviving members of band formed rebel army in Mexico and in 1958 returned to Cuba, where Raul established second front in eastern mountains and eventually led 4,000 men.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION: Named head of armed forces late in 1959 — a post he only now gives up. In 1962 became deputy prime minister and in 1972 first deputy prime minister, behind Fidel. When prime minister post was eliminated, Raul named first vice president, putting him first in line of succession. Heavily involved in Cuba's military alliance with Soviet Union and dispatch of hundreds of thousands of soldiers to Africa in 1970s. When Soviet Union collapsed, Raul oversaw military's switch to domestic and economic missions.

FAMILY: Married to Vilma Espin, who fought alongside him. Before she died on June 18, 2007, Espin was head of Communist Party-linked women's organization and often served as Cuba's first lady. Together they had four children and numerous grandchildren.

QUOTE: "I am among those who believe that it would be in imperialism's interest to try, with our irreconcilable differences, to normalize relations as much as possible during Fidel's life."