Fidel Castro dead: Rare pictures of the leading light of revolution [PHOTO]

Even as critics accused him of suppressing dissent, Castro remained the beloved leader of the country.

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Fidel Castro smokes a cigar during interviews with the press in Havana during a visit of U.S. Senator Charles McGovern in May 1975. Reuters

Former Cuban President, Fidel Castro's death was announced on Cuban state-run TV by his brother and current leader Raul Castro. Castro, who moulded Cuba into a bulwark against western capitalism and valiantly defied the US efforts to topple him for half a century, passed away on 25 November at the age of 90.

Fidel Castro was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and then the President from 1976 to 2008 and was responsible for converting Cuba into a one-party socialist state under Communist Party rule.

Even as critics accused him of suppressing dissent, Castro remained the beloved leader of the country and a leading light of revolution everywhere in the world.

IBtimes Singapore brings to you some rare pictures of the celebrated leader. Have a look:

Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro attends manoeuvres during the 20th anniversary of his and his fellow revolutionaries' arrival on the yacht Granma in November 1976. Reuters
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Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara attend the 1st National Meeting for Production in Cuba in this undated file photo Reuters
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Fidel Castro addresses the crowd during an event at Revolution Square in Havana in this undated file photo Reuters
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Fidel Castro (R) meets with Reverend W.A.Raifford (2nd-L), chief of the White Birds from the Creek Indians in Havana, July 16, 1959. Reuters
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File photo of then Cuban President Fidel Castro addressing the audience as president of the Non-Aligned Reuters
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Fidel Castro breaks a piece of bread outside of Moscow Reuters
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File photo of Fidel Castro relaxing a swimming pool in Romania Reuters
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Then Cuban President Fidel Castro laughs during the year-end session of the Cuban parliament in Havana in this December 23, 2005 file photo Reuters
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Cuba's President Fidel Castro addresses the crowd at the Plaza de la Patria (Homeland Square) in Bayamo, Cuba, July 26, 2006. Reuters
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Cuba's President Fidel Castro gestures during a tour of Paris in this March 15, 1995 file photo. Ailing Cuban leader Castro said on February 19, 2008 that he will not return to lead the country, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution Reuters
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Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro (L) holds up the arm of his brother, Cuba's President Raul Castro, during the closing ceremony of the sixth Cuban Communist Party (PCC) congress in Havana in this April 19, 2011 file photo. Reuters
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) visits his then Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro in Havana in this August 13, 2006 file photo. Reuters
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A man walks past a graffitti that reads "Long live Fidel" in Santiago de Cuba in this December 29, 2008 file photo Reuters

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