CUBA

Castro offers help

By Associated Press, 9/15/2001

AVANA - After decades of criticizing the United States, Cuba has moved to support its northern neighbor following this week's terrorist attacks.

Cuban television interrupted normal programming to broadcast images of Tuesday's carnage, and news shows have included updates from CNN's Spanish channel on the investigation and aftermath.

During a scheduled television appearance late Tuesday, President Fidel Castro condemned the attacks and offered medical assistance to the United States.

''The government of our country rejects and condemns with full force the attacks against the mentioned installations and expresses its sincerest condolences to the American people for the painful and unjustifiable loss of human life,'' the Cuban government said in a statement Wednesday.

At noon in Havana on Wednesday, Cuban workers filed out of European embassies to observe with their foreign co-workers a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.

The Roman Catholic Church in Cuba also said it would celebrate a Mass tomorrow in remembrance of the victims.

The US State Department lists Cuba as one of seven ''sponsors of terrorism.'' The other countries are North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Syria.

This story ran on page A9 of the Boston Globe on 9/15/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.