Cuba approves sex change operations (Reuters)

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba, in the latest change sincePresident Raul Castro took office in February, has alloweddoctors to perform sex change operations, a specialist at theNational Center for Sex Education said on Friday.

Center director Mariela Castro, the president's daughter,has pushed for the operations and said that at least 28 peoplein the country of 11 million want the surgery.

The specialist, who asked not to be named, said the PublicHealth Ministry approved the surgery this week. Cuba's healthcare system will perform it free of charge.

A sex change operation took place in Cuba in 1988. Butthere was so much opposition to it that the health ministrycanceled the program, Mariela Castro said last month.

She said Cuban doctors were training with Belgian surgeonsto prepare for the operations. It was not known when they wouldbegin.

Since succeeding his brother Fidel Castro as president,Raul Castro has opened up a national debate on issues facingCuba and taken steps to modernize the state-run economy.

Cubans can now buy computers, DVD players and mobilephones. But few people can afford them.

(Reporting by Rosa Tania Valdes and Nelson Acosta; Editingby Jeff Franks and Xavier Briand)