Cuba 'blocking' American messages

Cuba 'blocking' American messages
By Stephen Gibbs
BBC News, Havana

Cuban bulldozers are digging up an area in front of the US interests
section in the capital, Havana.

US diplomats say the move is designed to obscure the illuminated
messages, mainly on human rights themes, that are being displayed on the
building.

President Fidel Castro has described the scrolling messages as a gross
provocation, saying he believes the US wants to sever all relations with
Cuba.

The two countries have not had diplomatic links for 45 years.

Surprise

What was once the car park of the US mission in Havana is rapidly
turning into a major construction site.

Huge cranes have been brought in and teams of builders are working there
non-stop.

But no-one will say what is being built, not even President Castro.

On Wednesday night, his black Mercedes drew up to the site. He emerged
to give the workers a pep talk.

American envoys in Havana, he said, were cockroaches.

Asked what was being built, he said he did not want to ruin the surprise.

As he spoke, the huge US electronic billboard scrolled out its
illuminated messages across the building behind him.

One gave news that Palestinians had been voting for the first time in 10
years.

Another declared that President Bush believed people had the right to
choose how they lived their lives.

The propaganda war between the US and Cuba is nothing new - but this is
an escalation.

Already Cuba has put up scores of posters in the capital caricaturing
President Bush as both a fascist and a vampire.

Where this will all end is not clear.

President Castro says he believes the US is intending to break off all
relations with Cuba. He also says he does not believe Cuba would lose
much if that happened.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4649574.stm

Published: 2006/01/26 10:20:09 GMT

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