(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-10 10:55

HAVANA - The Cuban National Assembly of People's Power will be convened on February 24, Cuba's acting leader Raul Castro announced on Saturday.

The 614 deputies elected in the January 20 polls will be called to meet in the International Conference Center in Havana on February 24 to create the country's new legislature, Cuba's official news agency Prensa Latina reported, quoting a statement from Raul Castro.

The deputies, who are to serve a five-year-term, will also choose the assembly's president, vice president and secretary-general, said the statement.

It said members of Cuba's Council of State will also be elected by the deputies of the assembly, which is the supreme organ of state and the sole legislative authority.

Under Cuba's constitution, the national assembly chooses 31 of its members to form the Council of State, whose leader will be Cuba's president.

According to Cuba's National Election Commission, some 8.23 million Cubans cast their ballots on January 20, with a turnout of 96. 89 percent.

Fidel Castro, the country's top leader who is convalescing from gastro-intestinal surgery in July 2006 and temporarily handed over his power to Raul Castro, was reelected as the assembly's deputy with an approval rate of 98.26 percent.