Russia says will support Cuba as US tightens the 'noose'

MOSCOW, May 21: Russia said on Thursday that it would provide active support to Cuba despite attempts by the United States to intimidate and tighten the "sanctions noose" around the Communist run island republic.
"We will continue to provide the most active support to the fraternal Cuban people during this extremely difficult period," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
"We reaffirm our full solidarity with Cuba and strongly condemn any attempts at gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, intimidation, and the use of illegal unilateral restrictive measures, threats, and blackmail."
AFP adds, China said it supported Cuba and urged the United States to "stop brandishing the judicial stick" against the country, after Washington indicted the Caribbean island's former leader Raul Castro on murder charges.
"The US side should stop brandishing the sanctions stick and the judicial stick against Cuba and stop threatening force at every turn," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman GuoJiakun told a press briefing Thursday, when asked about the US charges.
"China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference," Guo said.    �"REUTERS, AFP