A prominent Cuban dissident has denied reports that she sought refuge at the Argentine embassy in Havana after spending the night there earlier this week.

Renown brain surgueon Hilda Molina told reporters late Thursday that she had gone to the embassy with her mother Wednesday in an effort to have a telephone conversation with her son who lives in Buenos Aires. She said while there, her mother became ill and embassy staff offered to let the two women spend the night.

An Argentine newspaper had reported that Ms. Molina was seeking asylum in the embassy.

For ten years, Cuba has denied Ms. Molina a visa to visit her son and grandchildren in Argentina.  Argentine President Nestor Kirchner wrote to Cuban President on her behalf earlier this month.