March 10, 2002	Sunday	Zilhaj 25, 1422

HAVANA, March 9: Cuban President Fidel Castro said the United States lacked the moral authority to accuse others of terrorism when it continues to back Israel’s military actions against the Palestinian people.

The United States owed Cuba an apology and should dismantle the “Mafia of terrorists” in Miami, the longtime Cuban leader insisted.

“The US government lacks the moral authority to combat terrorism so long as it continues to employ such tactics against countries such as Cuba and continues to back repugnant and brutal massacres that its ally Israel carries out against the Palestinian people,” Castro said on Friday.

Castro spoke to an audience of about 5,000 gathered at the Karl Marx theatre to decorate the mothers and wives of five Cubans condemned as spies in the United States.—AFP