(CNN) -- Some long-time Cuba watchers expressed skepticism Tuesday over a report by a former Mexican foreign minister that Communist leader Raul Castro removed two top-ranking officials earlier this month because they were plotting to overthrow him with the support of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Fidel Castro, beset by illness, ceded power to his younger brother, Raul, pictured, last year. Jorge G. Castaneda, who served as Mexico's foreign minister from 2000 - 2003, wrote in the March 23 issue of Newsweek, which became public Saturday, that Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Lage Davila and Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque were concerned that Raul Castro would make concessions that would betray the 50-year-old Cuban Revolution.
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Former Mexican foreign minister says Raul Castro removed two top-ranking officials
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It's claimed they were plotting to overthrow him fearing he'd betray Cuban revolution
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Report says plotters received support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
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Some long-time Cuba watchers skeptical over the report
The Castro brothers then called in Chavez and gave him a "devil's alternative: back off, while maintaining economic support for the island, or lose his Cuban security detail and intelligence apparatus, exposing himself to coups and assassination attempts from eventual @placeholder replacements.
@placeholder was merely trying to make the government more efficient, Pastor said.