Moscow - President Putin said yesterday that Russia was closing its Lourdes spy centre in Cuba, heralding the end of four decades of Russian military presence on the Caribbean island.
Mr Putin told military top brass that the decision to close the electronic intelligence centre outside Havana had been reached after "deep analysis and long talks with our Cuban partners". His wording suggested that the decision to shut the huge intelligence "listening post" 150 km off the Florida coast had met resistance from Fidel Castro of Cuba.
Mr Putin also confirmed an earlier decision that Russia would leave its military base at Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay.