The United States said Monday that rare protests in Cuba were a response over the “dire situation” on electricity and food shortages and rejected Havana’s accusations of interference.
“The United States is not behind these protests in Cuba and the accusation of that is absurd,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
“I think what we are seeing is a reflection of the dire situation on the island. We urge the Cuban government to refrain from violence and unjust detentions and are calling on the authorities to respect the Cuban citizens’ right to peaceful assembly,” he said.
