HAVANA (Reuters) – Vice President Juan Almeida,  one of the leaders of the Cuban revolution and a stalwart in  Cuba’s aging old guard, died of heart failure at age 82,  state-run media said yesterday.

Almeida was at the side of Fidel and Raul Castro from the  earliest days of their guerrilla uprising and was the only  black commander in the leadership.

He had been in ill health for several years and died late  on Friday, Communist Party newspaper Granma said. The  government declared today a national day of mourning and  ordered flags flown at half-staff.

“The name of Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida  Bosque will remain always in the hearts and minds of his  compatriots,” it said in a statement in Granma.

Fidel Castro took power after the rebels toppled dictator  Fulgencio Batista on Jan. 1, 1959, and ruled until his brother  Raul succeeded him as president last year.

Almeida served in high posts in the revolutionary  government and at his death was one of several vice presidents  in the Council of State under Raul Castro. He was also a member  of the powerful political bureau of the ruling Communist  Party.

Many of Cuba’s top leaders are in their late 70s and early  80s and Almeida’s death raises fresh questions about who will  succeed them.