Cuba's foreign minister has sharply criticized the U.S.-led military attacks against Taleban and terrorist forces in Afghanistan.
Throughout most of the first three days of the U.N. General Assembly, a broad spectrum of speakers from around the world reiterated key themes, including grief for the terrorist attacks in the United States and cautious support for the military campaign against terrorist and Taleban forces.
But Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque made clear his government's strong opposition to the military attacks. "The war in Afghanistan must be stopped," he said. "The government of the United States must acknowledge that it has made a mistake and must halt its ineffective unjustifiable bombing campaign against that people."
Mr. Perez Roque charged that civilians have suffered unjustly in the bombing campaign. "It would seem that this war has targeted children, the civilian population, hospitals and facilities of the International Red Cross as enemies," said Cuba's foreign minister. "As to its methods, no honest voice would rise in this hall to defend an endless slaughter with the most sophisticated weaponry, of a disposessed, starving, helpless people."
The Cuban foreign minister said the U.S.-led military campaign could not be justified under international law. And he said those responsible for it would "be judged harshly one day by history."