THE resignation of Cuba's President Fidel Castro after almost half a century in power could open up a new era in the Communist state's relations with the rest of the world, MPs said today.

Labour MP Ian Gibson, the chairman of the Parliamentary all-party group on Cuba, said that the departure of the ailing 81-year-old leader had been on the cards for some time.

"I think it has been inevitable as he has obviously been very ill and cannot carry on at the maximum level of interest as he would wish," he said.

"At some time the reins of office have to pass on. I think it will be a most interesting time."

While he did not expect any lifting of the long-standing United States embargo against its island neighbour, he said that he thought that there would be an opening out of its relations with the rest of the world.

"I think the spirit of the revolution will live on in the younger generation of Cubans, but I would certainly think there will be differences in the relationships with other countries," he said.

"Cuba understands that it is a global economy now. I think there will be less fear of America and more interaction with Europe."

Labour MP Ian Davidson, another member of the all-party group, said that he hoped Cuba would not become an issue in the forthcoming US Presidential elections.

He expressed concern that the pressure win votes in areas like Miami - where there is a large population of Cuban exiles deeply opposed to Castro - could lead to calls by Republicans like John McCain to ratchet up calls for action.

"The lower profile Cuba has in the American elections, the better for Cuba. McCain may make blood-curdling calls for action and the Democrats may feel the need to respond," he said.

"I hope that Cuba is left free to make its own political arrangements without external interference. It very much depends upon the attitude the United States takes," he said.

He praised Castro's "quite stunning" achievements in building Cuba's healthcare and education systems in the faced of what he described as decades of US "economic terrorism".