Disgraced Cuban politicians admit 'mistakes,' resign from all posts

Mar 5, 2009, 15:28 GMT

Havana - Former Cuban foreign minister Felipe Perez Roque and former secretary of the Cuban Council of Ministers Carlos Lage - a sort of Cuban prime minister - resigned from all their political positions and admitted their 'mistakes,' Cuban state media reported Thursday.

Cuban President Raul Castro removed both Perez Roque and Lage from their main posts Monday. On Tuesday, historic Cuban leader Fidel Castro accused the two men an 'unworthy behaviour' and 'ambitions' that made them succumb to the 'honey of power.'

The Communist Party daily Granma published Thursday letters from both politicians addressed to Raul Castro in which they took 'responsibility' for the 'mistakes' they made, without however mentioning explicitly what those mistakes were.

In his letter, Lage said he resigned as a member of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and of its Politburo, as well as stepping down from his position as 'a legislator, a member of the Council of State and a vice president of the Council of State.'

'I admit the mistakes I have made and I take responsibility for them,' he said.

Perez Roque wrote in very similar terms, as he announced his resignation as a member of the Council of State, a legislator and a member of the Central Committee of the PCC.

'I fully acknowledge that I made mistakes,' Perez Roque said. 'I take full responsibility for them.'

Both letters were dated Tuesday, a day after Raul Castro removed them along with other officials from some of their positions without assigning them new responsibilities.