Cuba says U.S. escalating anti-government actions

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba on Wednesday accused U.S. diplomats of escalating anti-government activities in recent weeks and said its ideological foe, the United States, will be held responsible for whatever happens if the actions continue.

The Foreign Ministry, in a statement published in state-run media, repeated charges from last month that the U.S. mission in Havana was providing direction and money to Cuban dissidents in violation of international diplomatic agreements.

It said there had since been an escalation of the activities that included anti-government acts in public places such as Havana's Revolution Square and supposed plans for "provocative actions" on July 4, the U.S. day of independence.

"The government of Cuba reiterates clearly that it will not tolerate the continuing of these provocations and illegal actions," the statement said.

Cuba, it said, "holds the U.S. government responsible for the consequences that may result."

The government said in May that U.S. top diplomat Michael Parmly, head of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba, had ferried money from a jailed anti-Castro exile to dissidents in Havana.

It aired on television what it said were e-mails and video and audio tapes indicating close cooperation between dissident Martha Beatriz Roque and U.S. diplomats in Havana.

Parmly, who is due to leave his post shortly, has not responded to the charges.

Roque said the Cuban statement may signal that the government will crack down on dissidents.  Continued...