Cuba concludes military exercises

Cuba concluded its week-long defense exercises Sunday that were designed to prepare for possible US attack.

The exercises, named "Bastion 2004 Strategic Drill", were aimedat testing the reaction capabilities of the army and the society to confront possible US military action since Washington maintains a hostile policy towards Cuba and US President George W. Bush seems to continue the policy in his second term, according to Cuban press reports.

Cuba has repeatedly warned its population of the danger of being next in line for a US invasion after Iraq. President Castro has accused the Bush administration of planning to invade Cuba.

However, the United States rejected the accusation, saying there are no plans to attack Cuba.

The Caribbean country pursues an All-People's War policy which requires every Cuban has the ability and means to fight enemies should the country be invaded or even occupied by foreign enemies.

The military-civilian exercises is the latest annual mass drillbased on a guerrilla strategy designed to resist an invasion force. This year's operation is more extensive than last year's.

Source: Xinhua