FACTBOX - Main events in Fidel Castro's health crisis

HAVANA (Reuters) - Fidel Castro, who retired on Tuesday after 49 years leading Cuba, has not appeared in public for almost 19 months.

Here are some of the main events in his health crisis:

* July 26, 2006 - Castro is rushed to hospital with intestinal bleeding. He formally delegates power to his brother Raul Castro on July 31.

* Dec. 2, 2006 - Castro fails to show up at military parade and celebrations of his postponed birthday, fueling speculation he is dying. CIA says he has terminal cancer.

* Dec. 26, 2006 - Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, a Spanish surgeon who examined Castro, says the Cuban leader does not have cancer and is recovering from intestinal illness.

* Jan. 15, 2007 - Spanish newspaper El Pais reports that Castro had botched surgery to treat diverticulitis, or inflamed bulges in his large intestine.

* Jan. 30, 2007 - Six-minute video shows Castro has put on weight, but still looks frail, wearing an Adidas sweatsuit top over pajamas to meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, his closest foreign ally.

* Dec 17, 2007 - Castro hints he will retire from politics in an article, saying it is not for him to cling to power or block the path of younger leaders.

* Jan 24, 2008 - Castro says in article that he thought he was dying when he was rushed into surgery. "When I fell seriously ill the night of the 26th and early on the 27th of July, I thought it was the end."

* Feb 19, 2008 - Castro announces he will not return to lead Cuba.