World's Longest-Serving Leaders

A look at the world's longest-serving leaders, excluding monarchies:

_President Fidel Castro of Cuba rose to power Jan. 1, 1959. Aged 81 and suffering health problems, Castro says he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.

_Omar Bongo ascended to Gabon's presidency Dec. 2, 1967, after his predecessor's death. In his 70s, Bongo faces little political opposition in oil-rich West African nation of 1.5 million.

_Moammar Gadhafi of Libya took power through a Sept. 1, 1969, military coup in the oil-producing North African nation of 6 million people. In his 60s.

_Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in his late 60s, came to power Nov. 11, 1978, in the Indian Ocean island nation of 370,000.

_Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, in his mid-60s, seized power in the oil-producing West African nation of 500,000 citizens in Aug. 3, 1979, coup.

_Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos took power Sept. 21, 1979, after winning election under one-party system then governing the oil-producing southern Africa nation of 12 million. In his 60s.

_Robert Mugabe has been only leader of Zimbabwe's 12 million people since April 18, 1980, independence from Britain. In his 80s.

Sources: The Associated Press, CIA World Factbook, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace