LatinNews Daily - 19 May 2011

Cuba: On 25 September, US President George W. Bush gave a speech to the United Nations General Assembly condemning the "lack of freedom" in certain countries. Rather than focussing on Iran or North Korea as is usually the case, he singled out Cuba and Burma. He said the long rule of ailing President Fidel Castro was "nearing its end" and that, as the island enters a period of transition, the UN must insist on "free speech, free assembly and ultimately free and competitive elections". His criticisms of Cuba provoked a strong reactions from the Cuban delegation who walked out in process and subsequently issued a statement describing Bush as a "criminal_who lacked the moral authority or credibility to pass judgement on another country".