Majority of Cubans against US embargo
An overwhelming majority of Cubans opposed the 43-year-old trade embargo imposed by the United States on the Caribbean island, an opinion poll released Wednesday showed.

The Cubans also foresaw a new victory over the US at the United Nations General Assembly, believing the world body will support the Cuban demand for an end to the US blockade.

About 88 percent of the Cubans polled said they believed it is not right for the US to continue its blockade against Cuba despite most UN member states' rejection to the embargo in previous UN votes.

The 191 member countries of the United Nations will debate and vote on Thursday the Cuban draft resolution titled "The Need to End the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade of the United States against Cuba."

The document reiterated the principles of sovereign equality among nations, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and freedom of international trade and navigation.

It cited the declarations issued by the heads of state and government at Iberian-American summits, which called for the elimination of unilateral economic measures against other nations.

In addition, Cuba expressed in the draft resolution concerns over the embargo's negative impact on the Cuban people and Cuban nationals living in other countries.

According to the Cuban authorities, the US embargo has caused an economic loss of over 79 billion US dollars to Cuba, let alone the negative effects on social sectors.

Seven out of every 10 Cubans were born and have been living under the blockade, which was officially imposed in 1962 by the then US President John F. Kennedy, authorities said.

The US sanctions prevent US tourists from traveling directly to Cuba and the island from utilizing the dollar for its foreign trade or receiving credits from international financial organizations.

The sanctions also prevent vessels having docked in Cuban ports from arriving in its territory and cancel or deny visas to those businessmen from third countries doing business with Cuba.

The most recent anti-Cuban measures announced in May by US President George W. Bush limit the sending of money remittances of Cubans living in the North American country to direct relatives on the island.

Cuba's draft resolution accused the US of continuing drafting and applying new bills aimed at extending the blockade although the United Nations has for 12 straight years urged it to end its blockade against Cuba.

In 1992 for the first time, the UN General Assembly approved the Cuban demand for the US to lift the blockade with 59 votes in favor, 71 abstentions and three votes against.

Since then, the resolutions urging Washington to end blockade against Cuba were overwhelmingly approved by UN member countries.

Last November, Cuba's resolution got 179 votes in favor. Only Israel and the Marshall Islands joined the United States in voting against it.

"Once again, morality and principle will defeat arrogance and force," said Cuban leaders on the eve of the 2004 UN vote on the embargo, convinced that the aggressive policy of the superpower against the small island is "failing."
 

Colombia authorizes extradition of four nationals to US
Colombia on Wednesday authorized the extradition of four nationals to the United States for drug-related crimes, said officials.

The four were given five days to appeal against the decision.

Bogota has extradited up to 250 Colombians or foreign citizens, mostly to the United States for drug-related crimes this year.

The justice and interior ministries have just turned down the appeal of two Colombians.

Colombia is the world's top cocaine producer. It supplies about80 percent of the world's cocaine market, with most of its drugs sold in the United States and Europe.
 

Bush campaign cuts website off from foreign access: report
US President George W. Bush's re-election campaign says it is denying certain foreign countries access to its website "for security reasons," according to CRIENGLISH.com.

When the web address www.georgewbush.com is typed in some countries, the following message appears: "Access Denied. You don't have permission to access 'http://www.georgewbush.com/' on this server."

The British website Netcraft, which analyzes Internet traffic to detect fraud and count the most visited sites, says the Bush campaign website has been inaccessible from London, Sydney and Amsterdam.

Costa Rica is not affected.

The website was down and inaccessible for several hours on Tuesday in what campaign officials said could be the work of hackers.