Havana demonstration against US ends
Cuban President Fidel Castro spoke to the closing rally of a demonstration of 1.4 million people protesting United States policy outside the U.S. interest office, the country's de facto embassy, on Tuesday, local media reported.

Washington "has totally failed in its plans to isolate and asphyxiate Cuba's economy," Castro, 79, told the rally.

Castro singled out an electronic message board, which was publishing quotes from U.S. civil rights leaders and news items criticizing the government for particular censure.

The senior U.S. diplomat in Cuba, Michael Parmly "is a fascist ... but they will decorate him and promote him for placing this electronic board," Castro said.

The U.S. government "has unmasked itself in front of the world with its insolence and its rubbish," he said.

Daniel Ortega, leader of the Nicaraguan Sandinista Party, led the march, taking Castro's traditional place, and high-ranking Cuban officials also took part.

Castro also protested against U.S. plans to free Luis Posada Carriles, described as a terrorist by Cuba. Havana says that Posada, who was arrested last year in the United States, took part in the bombing of a Venezuelan airliner which killed 73 people, including many Cuban citizens, in October 1976 in Barbados.

A U.S. immigration judge had ruled that Posada should not be extradited to either Cuba or Venezuela, because he might be tortured there.