Americas News

Cuban delegation walks out to protest Bush UN speech

Sep 25, 2007, 17:09 GMT

New York - The Cuban delegation walked out of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to protest US President George W Bush's call for freedom in Cuba after a transition of power from ailing leader Fidel Castro.

The Cuban delegation, led by the foreign minister, said in a statement that the walkout was a 'sign of profound rejection of the arrogant and mediocre statement by President Bush.'

'Bush is responsible for the murder of over 600,000 civilians in Iraq,' the statement said. 'He authorized the torture of prisoners at the Guantanamo Naval Base and the kidnapping of people, as well as clandestine flights and secret prisons.'

The statement called Bush a 'criminal with no moral authority or credibility to judge any other country.'

In his address, Bush said, 'the long rule (in Cuba) of a cruel dictator is nearing an end. The Cuban people are ready for their freedom.'

'And as a nation enters a period of transition, the UN must insist on free speech, free assembly, and ultimately, free and competitive elections,' Bush said.

Castro has been ill for more than a year and has handed power to his brother, Raul, on an interim basis.