CubaWashington, Oct 29 (AFP) Allegations of mysteriousattacks that have sickened US diplomats in Cuba are a"political manipulation" aimed at undermining US-Cubanrelations, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has said.
Rodriguez said it was "unacceptable and immoral" that"any political differences" between the two countries wouldtranslate into measures affecting nationals from eithercountry.
The United States "decided to adopt decisions of apolitical nature that hurt the Cuban people," said Rodriguez,who spoke in Washington at a meeting of Cubans living in theUnited States.
"The so-called sonic attacks ... are totally false," saidRodriguez, slamming the allegations as "political manipulationaimed at damaging bilateral relations."Washington has not formally blamed Havana for the allegedattacks, but US President Donald Trump said in mid-Octoberthat he holds Cuba responsible -- and the White House has saidit believes Cuba could bring the attacks to a halt.
US officials have said the attacks -- which affected atleast 24 diplomats at diplomatic residences and hotels in Cubafrom November 2016 to August 2017 -- may have been carried outwith some kind of covert acoustic device.
Rodriguez also dismissed as false "any type of attackthat is invoked," or "any incident" of that kind.
However given the allegations "there has been a seriousdeterioration in the relationship between both governments andboth countries," he said.
Cuba insists it has shown good will by letting FBIinvestigators visit the island three times this year.
Ignoring these arguments, in late September Washingtonwithdrew more than half of its diplomatic staff in Cuba andexpelled 15 Cuban diplomats from Washington.
For a month now US officials have stopped issuing visasfor Cubans to travel to the United States, a move Cuba callsunjustified. (AFP)AJR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.