BUENOS AIRES, January 31 (RIA Novosti) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro polled 98.2% of the votes in National Assembly elections January 20, just 1% less than his brother and acting president Raul with 99.3%, official election results reported.

Whether the 81 year-old Cuban leader will again be re-elected as president will become clear on February 24, when the National Assembly of 614 candidates is due to elect its next president.

Fidel Castro underwent stomach surgery in July 2006, handing over 'temporary' power to his brother Raul, 76. And although, the leader of the 1959 Cuban Revolution has made a number of television appearances, he has not been seen in public since.

In December, Castro announced he would not "cling to power" and stand in the way of a new generation of leaders. The announcement raised speculation that Castro's days as Cuban leader could be numbered and the National Assembly may well decide to pass permanent power to his healthier, and albeit, slightly younger brother.

National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon told reporters earlier: "You should have no doubt that he's ready [to continue as president]."

"He is in a position to continue that job, and the vast majority of Cuba will be more than happy [about that], myself included," he added.