Cuba condemns U.S. decision on Posada

HAVANA, May 9 (UPI) -- Cuban leader Fidel Castro Wednesday condemned the U.S. decision to dismiss charges against a Cuban exile wanted in Havana on bombing charges.

Luis Posada Carriles was scheduled to go on trial Friday in El Paso, Texas, on immigration fraud charges, but U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone dismissed the charges and ordered Posada's immediate release from electronic monitoring.

"Posada Carriles is free and without legal charges against him, it is of the entire responsibility of the White House," said Dagoberto Rodriguez Barrera from the Cuba Interest Section in Washington.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez also criticized the U.S. decision, calling Posada an international terrorist, Cuba's Granma newspaper reported Wednesday.

Cuba has accused Posada of orchestrating the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner in Venezuela, and of attempting to assassinate Castro.