Cuba protests: Thousands rally against government as economy struggles | The Daily Update

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Cuba protests: Thousands rally against government as economy struggles

Thousands of Cubans have joined the biggest protests for decades against the island's Communist government.

They marched in cities including the capital Havana, shouting, "Down with the dictatorship!".

Images on social media showed what appear to be security forces detaining and beating some of the protesters.

Cubans have been angered by the collapse of the economy, as well as by restrictions on civil liberties and the authorities' handling of the pandemic.

The protesters were demanding a faster coronavirus vaccination programme after Cuba reported a record of nearly 7,000 daily infections and 47 deaths on Sunday.

Last year, Cuba's largely state-controlled economy shrank by 11%, its worst decline in almost three decades. It was hit hard by the pandemic and US sanctions.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the protests were a provocation by mercenaries hired by the US to destabilise the country.

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