Cuban dissidents see ray of hope in Castro retirement

MADRID, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Cuban dissidents expelled from the island to Spain only days ago said on Tuesday that Fidel Castro's retirement changed little but could bring a transition to multi-party democracy nearer.

Omar Pernet, jailed in a 2003 political crackdown but freed at the weekend after a deal with Spain, had mixed reactions to news that Castro will not seek a new presidential term. He has held power since leading a guerrilla war that ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959.

"I reacted with happiness that the executioner has relaxed his iron grip," said Pernet, a frail 62-year-old who hobbled around a Madrid hotel room on crutches due to fractures he suffered in a traffic accident during a prison transfer in 2004.

"Even though Raul is in charge, he (Fidel) will keep sticking his oar in," Pernet told Reuters in the service apartment in central Madrid where he has stayed since arriving in Spain on Sunday.

"We can't be sure, but maybe he (Raul) will open up the political system a little to different movements, to different parties," he said.

Castro, 81, has not appeared in public for 19 months since suffering an undisclosed illness and the Cuban National Assembly is expected to nominate his younger brother Raul as president in his place.

A welder by trade and independent human rights activist, Pernet hoped that Raul Castro, 76, would now free the 55 dissidents who remain in jail.

"I don't know if Raul will be as obstinate as him (Fidel), but if he is a little smart he will free them," he said.

Pedro Pablo Alvarez, another of the four dissidents who arrived in Madrid on Sunday, was surprised by the news and was cautiously optimistic.

"At least the top authorities have shown signs of wanting to change something. Until now, we didn't have even that hope," Alvarez, 60, told Reuters in a room overlooking a statue of Christopher Columbus.

"We have to think positive. We mustn't always go around thinking that in Cuba we are marching to disaster," he added.

"I think that within the Cuban government there are people who love Cuba too, who pick up on these things," he added.

Both Alvarez and Pernet felt a peaceful transition was possible in Cuba.

"All that was missing was the government's willingness. If they demonstrate that, then of course we will accept," Alvarez said. (Reporting by Martin Roberts; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)