For the 17th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly has voted for a resolution urging the United States to lift its long-standing trade embargo against Cuba.
The non-binding resolution was approved Wednesday by a vote of 185 to three, with two abstentions. Last year, 184 countries voted in Cuba's favor.
Earlier this month, U.S. President George Bush vowed not to lift the embargo until Havana releases political prisoners. He said the policies in place are aimed at giving the Cuban people a chance to express themselves freely without fear of repression. Mr. Bush made his remarks in Florida, which is home to a large population of Cuban exiles.
The embargo has been in place for more than four decades. Cuba likens the embargo to genocide and says it has cost the island billions of dollars.
Cuba also says the embargo is a blatant, massive and systematic violation of Cubans' rights.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.