Bush attacks Cuba and other Latin America rivals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Bush attacks Cuba and other Latin America rivals

US President Bush told Latin Americans on Monday they had a "God-given right" to freedom in a sharp attack on Cuba's Fidel Castro and other rivals in a region where anti-U.S. sentiment is rising.

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US President Bush told Latin Americans on Monday they had a "God-given right" to freedom in a sharp attack on Cuba's Fidel Castro and other rivals in a region where anti-U.S. sentiment is rising.

Bush patched up his friendship with Mexican President Vicente Fox earlier on Monday after a year of disputes over the Iraq war, but he had only stern words for other Latin American leaders who have fallen foul of Washington.

Speaking at a 34-nation summit of leaders across the Americas, Bush singled out Cuban President Fidel Castro for his toughest condemnation.

"Through our democratic example, we must continue to stand with the brave people of Cuba, who for nearly half a century have endured the tyrannies and repression," Bush said at the summit's inaugural ceremony.

"Dictatorship has no place in the Americas. We must all work for a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba," he said.

In recent years, leftist leaders have been elected in Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. All three countries have established friendly ties with Castro, who has held power for 45 years despite U.S. efforts to oust and isolate him.

Washington's support for sometimes brutal governments in Latin America during the Cold War left many distrustful of U.S. leadership and anti-American sentiment surged last year with the war against Iraq.

Source: Agencies

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