Bush predicts change is near for Cuba

Miami, Apr 29: President George W Bush took fresh aim today at Cuba's communist government, calling it a ''cruel dictatorship'' and predicting that democratic change was near.

The US president's comments came amid signs that Cuban leader Fidel Castro was recovering from an intestinal ailment that has kept him out of the public eye for the past nine months and may soon resume some government duties.

Bush, who has tightened economic sanctions on Havana and boosted aid to dissidents with a goal of hastening the end of Castro's grip on power, said in a commencement speech at Miami Dade College that many Cubans were dreaming of a better life.

''Unfortunately, those dreams are stifled by a cruel dictatorship that denies all freedom in the name of a dark and discredited ideology,'' Bush said, noting that many people at the graduation had roots in Cuba, which is just 140 km from Florida.

''Some of you still have loved ones who live in Cuba and wait for the day when the light of liberty will shine upon them again,'' Bush said. ''That day is nearing.'' Since Fidel Castro, 80, handed over power temporarily to his brother in July, he has since been seen only in videotaped footage and in photographs.

A few months ago, US intelligence agencies appeared to be expecting Castro's demise. In fact, former US intelligence chief John Negroponte said in a December interview he was near death.

However, recent photographs of Castro's meeting with a senior Chinese Communist Party official showed he has regained some weight.

And US officials have since acknowledged he may be improving.

Many Cuba watchers say Raul Castro, 75, is likely to remain in control but there is still some speculation that Fidel Castro will assume a role as elder statesman or return to help set and even dictate policy.

In Bolivia, President Evo Morales said he was sure Castro would resume power during May Day celebrations in Havana, a Bolivian television station reported today.

''I'm sure, my Cuban brothers, that on May 1 comrade Fidel will return to governing Cuba and Latin America,'' Morales said, according to the private Unitel network.

After Castro's illness was announced last year, Bush reiterated a desire to see democratic change in Cuba but he has said little about the situation in Havana since then.

Bush did not mention either of the Castro brothers by name in his speech.

Among those at the commencement were some of the most vocal anti-Castro politicians in the US Congress: Rep Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Rep Mario Diaz-Balart and Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. All three are Republicans from Florida.

Bush also made a push for Congress to take up his proposal for broad immigration reform that would include steps to tighten the border along with a guest worker programme.

''Our current immigration system is in need of reform. We need a system where our laws are respected,'' Bush said. ''We need a system that meets the legitimate needs of our economy.

And we need a system that treats people with dignity and helps newcomers assimilate into our society.'' Bush said in his weekly radio address he saw signs that some in Congress who had been hesitant to move forward on immigration last year now seem ''open to supporting it.''

Reuters>