Havana  - Cuban leader Fidel Castro sent a message of support to Cubans affected by Hurricane Gustav, in an article published Monday in the Communist Party daily Granma and other state media.

"Only just ideas defended with courage, dignity and firmness survive," Castro said.

The man who led the country for close to half a century and formally gave up power in February due to health problems, extended support to citizens in western Cuba, which was devastated by Hurricane Gustav over the weekend.

While there were no fatalities reported, the hurricane ripped through tens of thousands of homes, cut off power lines and ruined banana plantations and other crops.

"The task we have at hand demands time and experience. The true Cuba will not be built in one minute," Castro said. (dpa)