THE US: The White House welcomed former president Mr Jimmy Carter's call for a Cuban vote on political reforms but held fast to its defence of a trade embargo against Havana that he said should be lifted .
"The President believes that the trade embargo is a vital part of American foreign policy and human rights policy toward Cuba," said White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer.
"Trade with Cuba does not benefit the people of Cuba. It is used to prop up a repressive regime." US Cuban policy has been put in the spotlight by Mr Carter's historic trip, a planned Cuba policy speech next week by President George W. Bush, and US assertions that Cuba is developing biological weapons.
Mr Fleischer declined to comment on a New York Times report that Mr Bush next Monday would announce steps to increase pressure on Cuba by tightening the enforcement of travel restrictions, trying to raise the profile of dissidents and bolstering US government broadcasts to Cuba.
In a speech on Tuesday attended by President Fidel Castro, Mr Carter encouraged Cuba to allow a vote on free expression, amnesty for political prisoners, more private business and a new electoral law.
He urged the US Congress to lift the 40-year-old trade embargo on Cuba, saying the time was right for Washington to take the first step to end a "state of belligerence".
Spreaking with students afterward, Mr Carter also spoke about democratic principles of freedom of speech, opposition politics and elections.