Cuban president accuses US of genocide, seeking takeover

The island has weathered a US oil embargo since January and is enduring one of its worst economic crises ever.Cuba’s president has accused the United States of carrying out “genocide” against his people and seeking to seize the Caribbean island nation.President Miguel Diaz-Canel lashed out during a rally on Sunday commemorating the start of the Cuban Revolution in 1953. His anger was a reaction to Washington’s continued pressure, which has included a crippling oil embargo that has produced regular blackouts and economic hardship.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Cuba’s foreign minister observes ‘no progress’ in US negotiationslist 2 of 4Lawmaker McGovern: Americans need to ‘fight for the soul’ of the USlist 3 of 4US moves to delist Syria as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’list 4 of 4At UN, Cuba rallies support against ‘ruthless’ US blockadeend of list“I denounce that Cuba is the victim of a cold-bloodedly calculated genocide,” Diaz-Canel said in Pinar del Rio at the event marking the 73rd anniversary of the uprising against former dictator Fulgencio Batista.US relations with the communist-led island have long been tense, but have deteriorated further under US President Donald Trump.Washington imposed an oil embargo on Cuba on January 29, causing daily blackouts of more than 20 hours.The US, Diaz-Canel said on Sunday, was engaged in “economic strangulation” through its actions.Employers have been forced to reduce workdays, industrial production has stopped, and water and medicine shortages are hitting a country already suffering from previous US sanctions and financial reforms that caused inflation.Payment companies Visa and Mastercard, Spain’s Melia hotel chain, and Air Canada and Air France have all exited the country amid the crisis.“Cuba is today waging a historic battle … against the walls of a genocidal policy whose objective is to suffocate an entire people in order to appropriate the country,” Diaz-Canel said.