Cuba dismisses hunger strike criticism

Cuba has dismissed all criticism about the death of dissident Orlando
Zapata, who died last Tuesday in a Havana prison after an 85-day hunger
strike. The country's communist party newspaper said Mr Zapata was
encouraged to begin his protest by foreign political opponents of the
Cuban regime.

His death has led to widespread international criticism of the Caribbean
island. The United States is just one of several countries to demand
that Cuba free all its political prisoners.

Mr Zapata stopped eating to protest against conditions in the Havana
prison after being mistreated by a guard. Following his death, five
other prisoners have now begun hunger strikes. They are demanding the
immediate release of all the country's dissidents.

Cuba dismisses hunger strike criticism | Radio Netherlands Worldwide (28
February 2010)
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/cuba-dismisses-hunger-strike-criticism