Bush says Castro rule near end, urges 'free' polls in Cuba

UNITED NATIONS - US President George W. Bush, in a speech to the UN General Assembly here Tuesday, called for "free and competitive elections" in Cuba, saying the long rule of ailing President Fidel Castro "is nearing its end."
"In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end," he told world leaders gathered here, in a reference to Castro.
"The Cuban people are ready for their freedom," he added, stressing as the communist-rule island enters a period of transition, "The United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly and ultimately free and competitive elections."
The United States and Cuba do not have full diplomatic relations. The United States has a trade embargo on Havana that it clamped 45 years ago.
ga/ri/mac

09/25/2007 14:31 GMT