Havana: Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro called for an end to the US embargo and said Cuba was not asking for "charity," hours after US President Barack Obama lifted curbs on travel and money transfers by Cuban-Americans.
"Not a word was said about the embargo, which is the most cruel of all actions," Castro said in an article published late Monday on the official Cubadebate website in reaction to Obama's decision.
"Conditions are such that Obama could use his talents toward a constructive policy that would end what has failed for almost half a century."
On Monday US President Barack Obama made a landmark gesture to communist Cuba, lifting all curbs on travel and money transfers by Cuban-Americans to the island for the first time in three decades.
Since Obama took power in January the level of vitriol between Washington and Havana has eased, with a sometimes bellicose Castro praising the new US president.
On Monday, Castro appeared to continue that trend claiming Cuba "did not blame Obama for the atrocities committed by other US governments."
Castro added that he did not question Obama's "sincerity and desire to change the politics and image of the United States".