Print

Mail

wiki links

Bush hoping for democratic transition

US President George W. Bush said he hoped for a democratic transition in Cuba yesterday, after Fidel Castro resigned as president.

Bush, speaking during a trip to Rwanda, urged the international community to help Cuba shift toward democracy and said: "The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty."

"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for democracy," Bush said during a news conference with the president of Rwanda. "Eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections -- and I mean free and I mean fair -- not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as true democracy," Bush said.

Bush received the news of Castro's resignation from his national security adviser while traveling in Africa. He was expected to get a fuller briefing on the situation later in the day.
This story has been viewed 1352 times.