The United States indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro for alleged involvement in the 1996 downing of two civilian US planes by Cuban air force fighter jets. The incident killed four members of the Miami-based anti-Castro humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, who served as defense minister at the time, faces charges including conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder counts, and destruction of aircraft. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced the allegations as a political maneuver without legal foundation and accused the US of lying and distorting events. The indictment was filed in federal court in Miami. US officials framed the case as accountability for targeting Americans, while President Trump called it a major moment and said Washington is freeing up Cuba.
"The United States has indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro, the US Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Castro has been charged for his alleged role in the downing of two civilian US planes by Cuban air force fighter jets in 1996, which killed four members of a Miami-based anti-Castro humanitarian group known as Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was defense minister at the time."
"Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez has denounced the allegations, calling it a "political maneuver, devoid of any legal foundation." Diaz-Canel also accused the US of lying and distorting the events surrounding the 1996 plane downing. Castro, the brother of longtime Cuban President Fidel Castro, oversaw a historic 2015 rapprochement with the US under the presidency of Barack Obama. Donald Trump later reversed the move in 2017, during his first term in office."
"The indictment was filed in a federal court in Miami, with the charges being one count of conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft, according to court records. President Donald Trump called the indictment a "very big moment," adding that Washington is "freeing up Cuba." He added that he did not know what comes next for the island nation, but ruled out an "escalation" in the country."
"Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment is proof that the US "does not and will not forget its citizens." "Nations and countries cannot be permitted to target Americans and not face accountability," he added. Rubio tells Cubans: A 'new path' is on offer Earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed Cubans and told them a "new path" is on offer for them."
Read at www.dw.com
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