Cubans gather before US embassy in Havana to protest Raul Castro indictment

HAVANA - Thousands of Cubans gathered on May 22 before the US embassy in Havana to protest a US decision to indict former president Raul Castro in the downing of two civilian airplanes 30 years ago.

The pro-government demonstration, which began shortly after sunrise on Havana’s waterfront, comes as Cuban officials rallied this week around the island's revolutionary hero amid spiraling tensions with the United States.

The 94-year-old elder statesman was not present.

Cuban lawmaker Gerardo Hernandez, a national hero and former spy, conveyed a message thanking the Cuban people and friends around the world for their solidarity.

“As long as I live, I will remain at the forefront of the Revolution, with one foot in the stirrup,” Mr Hernandez quoted Castro as saying.

Thousands of Cubans waved flags during the nearly hour-long rally beside a calm sea just 144km from US shores, chanting “Viva Raul!” and “Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death)!”.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attended the rally, as did several of Castro’s family, including daughter Mariela Castro, son Alejandro Castro and grandson Raul Rodriguez Castro.

Rodriguez Castro, known in Cuba as Raulito (Little Raul) or El Cangrejo (The Crab), often serves as his grandfather’s bodyguard and met last week with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a rare visit by a US spy chief to Havana.

Cuba says Castro’s indictment on murder charges on May 20 was based on “spurious” allegations designed to serve as a pretext to invade the nation amid a Trump administration push to upend the island’s government. REUTERS