Cuba said Wednesday it has launched a probe into how hundreds of thousands of customer mobile phone numbers fell into the hands of a U.S. government programme that used them to secretly set up a mobile-based, Twitter-like social network on the island.

An Associated Press investigation revealed last week that the US Agency for International Development programme (USAID) used the data to build a subscriber base for the platform, dubbed ZunZuneo, with the idea that it could be used to stir unrest.

Cuba considers such USAID programmes to be subversive attempts to topple its Communist-run government. Officials told reporters that state telecom company ETECSA had not provided the data to any international operator or entity, and the information was obtained illegally.

"ETECSA wanted to stress in the statement that its user database has not been released to any operator for privacy issues, nor to an agency or to anyone other than within the company itself," said Daniel Ramos, head of security operations for ETECSA.

He did not give details on the probe's progress or any measures that may be taken.

"We condemn the use of this database, which the company did not agree to. And of course, we do not know how this database could have fallen into the hands of the ZunZuneo platform and others already mentioned," he said.

Ramos said ETECSA detected bulk messages being sent through ZunZuneo starting in September 2009 during a mass concert by Colombian singer Juanes, and again in early 2010.

The company complained to 200 operators that had messaging agreements with ETECSA, and threatened to sever relationships if it continued.

Nonetheless ZunZuneo continued to operate until 2012 and built a base of tens of thousands of users before abruptly disappearing.

And until the recent AP investigation, ETECSA had no idea the messages were anything other than unwanted spam, ETECSA officials said.

Some lawmakers in Washington have expressed support for ZunZuneo since AP's original disclosure.

At a House Foreign Affairs hearing on Wednesday, congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican, said the network was a US-led democracy effort in Cuba which was "transparent" and "one of the most scrutinised programmes in our foreign aid portfolio."

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - Recent

1. Vehicles driving down street in Havana

2. Street scene in Havana, man looking at smart phone in the foreground

3. Various of people on their phones

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - Recent

4. Pan of documents relating to the ZunZuneo network, a text messaging-based social network in Cuba

POOL

Washington, DC - 9 April 2014

5. Wide shot of House Foreign Affairs Committee

6. Mid of USAID (US Agency for International Development) Administrator Rajiv Shah in front of the committee

7. Wide side shot of committee

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican Congresswoman, Florida:

"Contrary to what the media have reported, democracy programmes for Cuba are transparent. They are open. The Cuba Democracy programme with its 20-million-dollar price tag, in fact is one of the most scrutinised programmes in our foreign aid portfolio. The real question here is why does the press and some in our congressional family demonise these programmes?"

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - March 2014

9. Exterior shots of the USAID headquarters

10. Flag outside the USAID headquarters

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 9 April 2014

11. Wide shot of news conference with managers of Cuba Communications Company

12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Daniel Ramos, Head of Security, Cuban State Telecom ETECSA:

"ETECSA (Cuba's state-owned telecom company) wanted to stress in the statement that its user database has not been released to any operator for privacy issues, nor to an agency or to anyone other than within the company itself. We condemn the use of this database, which the company did not agree to. And of course, we do not know how this database could have fallen into the hands of the ZunZuneo platform and others already mentioned."

13. Wide of news conference

14. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Daniel Ramos, Head of Security, Cuban State Telecom ETECSA:

"the text messaging service is very cheap, insignificant. We even have agreements with operators where the text messaging service is not charged, so I do not see how that money could have been able to reach ETECSA."

15. Cutaway of cameras

16. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Daniel Ramos, Head of Security, Cuban State Telecom ETECSA:

"ETECSA continues to develop its services, but this depends on the level of investments that we make from the economic point of view. And of course, our goal is to prevent anyone from inventing a service for our users. The idea is that the company provides all the possible services to prevent these things from happening."

17. Wide of news conference ending

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus008191

The White House is denying that a program by USAID to set up a "twitter-like" service in Cuba is a covert program.

At the White House daily briefing, Jay Carney said the program run by USAID was a development program designed to help foster democracy in Cuba.

He indicated that the budget for the program had been examined by the General Accounting Office and found to be within guidelines for "development" projects.

Carney says the President does support efforts to expand communications in Cuba.

AP TELEVISION

Washington 3 April 3, 2014

1. SOUNDBITE: Jay Carney, White House Press Spokesman:

"We've seen the story by the AP this morning. The program referred to by the Associated Press was a development program, run by the United States Agency for International Development. And that program was completed in 2012. As you know, USAID is a development agency, not an intelligence agency. Suggestions that this was a covert program are wrong. Congress funds democracy programming for Cuba to help empower Cubans to access more information and to strengthen civil society. This appropriations are public, unlike covert action. The money invested has been debated in Congress. In addition, GAO reviewed this program in detail in 2013 and found that it was conducted in accordance with US law and under appropriate oversight controls. In implementing programs in non-permissive environments, of course the government has taken steps to be discrete. That's how you protect the practitioners and the public. This is not unique to Cuba. More details about the program are available at USAID, and I think that veterans of this briefing room know that when I say a program like this is not covert, and then I talk about it, that's how you know it's not covert."

The White House is denying that a program by USAID to set up a "twitter-like" service in Cuba is a covert program.

At the White House daily briefing, Jay Carney said the program run by USAID was a development program designed to help foster democracy in Cuba.

He indicated that the budget for the program had been examined by the General Accounting Office and found to be within guidelines for "development" projects.

Carney also aid the President does support efforts to expand communications in Cuba.

AP TELEVISION

Washington 3 April 3, 2014

1. SOUNDBITE: Jay Carney, White House Press Spokesman:

"We've seen the story by the AP this morning. The program referred to by the Associated Press was a development program, run by the United States Agency for International Development. And that program was completed in 2012. As you know, USAID is a development agency, not an intelligence agency. Suggestions that this was a covert program are wrong. Congress funds democracy programming for Cuba to help empower Cubans to access more information and to strengthen civil society. This appropriations are public, unlike covert action. The money invested has been debated in Congress. In addition, GAO reviewed this program in detail in 2013 and found that it was conducted in accordance with US law and under appropriate oversight controls. In implementing programs in non-permissive environments, of course the government has taken steps to be discrete. That's how you protect the practitioners and the public. This is not unique to Cuba. More details about the program are available at USAID, and I think that veterans of this briefing room know that when I say a program like this is not covert, and then I talk about it, that's how you know it's not covert."

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee asked the U.S. Agency for International Development on Thursday to turn over all its records about the Obama administration's Twitter-like social media program it secretly built in Cuba.

The request included all copies of any messages that the U.S. government or its contractors transmitted to subscribers in Cuba, who never were told about Washington's role in the primitive, text message-based network that was meant to undermine Cuba's communist government.

Congressional hearings this week scrutinized the Obama administration's social media program, known as ZunZuneo when it publicly launched in 2010, and whether USAID should be running such an intelligence-like operation instead of spy outfits like the CIA.

"USAID programs are as of notified designed to promote open accessed information, facilitate communication," said Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator. "Any programs that have further purposes are not implemented by USAID but rather by other parts of the state department or the national endowment for democracy."

Menendez, who made the request without a committee vote, said the review will consider whether USAID's pro-democracy programs in Cuba were consistent with those run in other foreign countries, and whether USAID should operate what it has since acknowledged was a "discreet" program.

Menendez said earlier Thursday that USAID's Cuban program was not "in any way a cockamamie idea." His comments took direct aim at Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who earlier this week criticized the USAID program in similar terms _ marking a rare departure from the Senate's staid tradition of decorum among lawmakers.

"It is dumb, dumb and even dumber to go ahead and suggest that there can be freedom, and we should seek Internet freedom globally, but somehow the people of Cuba don't deserve the same freedom," Menendez said. Leahy last week called the secret program "dumb, dumb, dumb."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 10 April, 2014

1. Wide of hearing hall from far end

POOL

Washington - 10 April, 2014

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chairman Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey:

"I think it is dumb, dumb, and even dumber to go ahead and suggest that there can be freedom and we should seek freedom of international access and freedom of expression globally but that somehow the people of Cuba don't deserve the same freedom."

3. Wide of people talking in the hall

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Senator Marco Rubio, R-Florida:

"The other argument I've heard is that this is a covert program but in fact this program was reviewed by the general accounting office right."

VOICE UP Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator; "Correct"

"And they made no suggestions for changes. They had no criticisms of how the money was being administered.

SOUNBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator:

"They actually complimented USAID on improvement management oversight of the program.

SOUNDBITE (English) Senator Marco Rubio, R-Florida:

"There was no intelligence program, there was no spying on the Cuban government used in this program"

VOICE UP Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator; "no"

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 10 April, 2014

5. Close of Shah listening

POOL

Washington - 10 April, 2014

6. SOUNBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID president:

"USAID programs are as of notified designed to promote open accessed information, facilitate communication. Any programs that have further purposes are not implemented by USAID but rather by other parts of the state department or the national endowment for democracy."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 10 April, 2014

7. Close of Senator Jeff Flake

POOL

Washington - 10 April, 2014

8. SOUNBITE (English) Senator Jeff Flake, R-Arizona:

"specifically with this one I do have issues. Not with the fact that we have programs like this going but the fact that they're conducted by USAID."

9. Wide of of people leaving hearing

Costa Rica's government has asked Washington to explain why it devised a secret 'Cuban Twitter' social media network from inside the Central American nation's borders.

Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla confirmed on Thursday that she approved a diplomatic note her government sent to the US Embassy in San Jose asking about the social media network.

"The appropriate (diplomatic) note was sent to make our position known and from our point of view there is nothing more to add," Chinchilla told reporters at a government event in San Jose.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) created ZunZuneo to stir political unrest in Cuba, but its users were unaware it was backed by the US government.

In early April, the Associated Press reported that ZunZuneo's development team initially operated out of Central America.

A USAID manager supervised the work of US contractor Creative Associates International from an office in the capital San Jose.

The US government has denied that the program was secret or that it had a political agenda.

Documents obtained by the AP show that contractors working on ZunZuneo went to extensive lengths to hide its ties to the US, using foreign companies and computer servers paid for via a bank account in the Cayman Islands.

They did so after acquiring more than 400,000 mobile phone numbers from Cuba's state-run telecommunications provider.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica President speaking at an event of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration

2. Mid of Chinchilla speaking

3. Wide of event

4. Chinchilla speaking

5. Chinchilla leaving event and stopping to greet someone

6. Chinchilla talking to media, with Costa Rica Communications Minister Carlos Roverssi to her right (with yellow tie)

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica President:

"The appropriate (diplomatic) note was sent (to the US Embassy in Costa Rica) to make our position known and from our point of view there is nothing more to add."

8. Roverssi listening to Chinchilla as she talks to media

9. Close of Roverssi

10. Roverssi listening to Chinchilla as she talks to media

11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Carlos Roverssi, Costa Rica Minister of Communication:

"Look, when we learned through the AP (about social media network ZunZuneo), which was the (news agency) that brought this information to light, we officially requested that the government of the United States clarify the facts, as they have been reported. The government of the republic (Costa Rica) was unaware of the issue (meaning ZunZuneo's existence), the issue came about in 2008 and we are waiting for the response from the government of the United States."

12. Roverssi leaving event

Cuban dissidents, along with their relatives and supporters, said on Friday that the island's government had this week freed at least 38 people on a US list of imprisoned opposition members.

US officials said after weeks of virtual silence that those released were on the list of 53.

Ben Rhodes, the deputy US national security adviser who negotiated the releases as part of a broader detente with Cuba, said on Twitter: "The United States welcomes the substantial and ongoing releases of prisoners in Cuba - so good to see people reunited with their families."

One of the dissidents released was Miguel Alberto Ulloa, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday.

"For many years President (Raul) Castro has kept it (Cuba) practically out of touch from the rest of the world," he said.

"One of the things (US President Barack) Obama said is that something could occur (referring to improved diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US) but only as long as there is democracy and freedom of expression, something that still doesn't exist in Cuba," he added.

A Miami-based Cuba-American group has said three other dissidents on the list were freed last month, for a total of 41 to be let go.

Wilberto Parada, another of the dissidents released this week, said: "I do what I do for my own moral beliefs, I am not an agent of the United States. I am a free man, I have my own thoughts, I am in Cuba and I am a Cuban."

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 9 January, 2015

1. Hand-painted message on water tank at the home of released Cuban dissident Miguel Alberto Ulloa reading (Spanish) "Change"

2. Hand-painted message on water tank reading (English) "USA-Cuba"

3. Ulloa and his relatives (Ulloa is wearing a red T-shirt and carrying his son) walking next to water tank

4. Close of Ulloa's release papers; Ulloa is pointing to text reading (Spanish) "Cause of release: Probation"

5. Ulloa sitting on the sofa with his wife Tailadys Perez their son

6. Ulloa's relatives watching as he talks to reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Miguel Alberto Ulloa, released political prisoner:

"For many years President (Raul) Castro has kept it (Cuba) practically out of touch from the rest of the world. One of the things (US President Barack) Obama said is that something could occur (referring to improved diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US) but only as long as there is democracy and freedom of expression, something that still doesn't exist in Cuba."

8. Ulloa's relatives listening to interview

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maribel Ginal, mother of released political prisoner Miguel Alberto Ulloa:

"I think they (government authorities) should respect the agreements (between Cuba and the US), and that it could benefit those who think like this (referring to dissidents), and for more freedom of expression."

10. People and traffic on Havana street

11. Various of released political prisoner Wilberto Parada hugging wife and son inside their home

12. Handwritten message on wall inside living room reading (Spanish) "Jehovah is my shepherd. I shall lack nothing."

13. Parada seen reflected in mirror, handwritten message on wall reading (Spanish) "Jehovah is with me like a mighty giant"

14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Wilberto Parada, released political prisoner:

"I do what I do for my own moral beliefs, I am not an agent of the United States. I am a free man, I have my own thoughts, I am in Cuba and I am a Cuban."

15. Cutaway of Parada and family

16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Yudisnel Rodriguez, Wilberto Parada's wife:

"This was terrible, what we have gone through. All the suffering and injustice hurts a lot. The injustice hurts quite a lot."

17. Parada standing with wife and son on street

18. Parada greeting neighbours

19. Cuban flag draped from balcony

20. Wide of Cuban street

The Reverend Jesse Jackson said on Sunday that he intends to press on with a bid to mediate the retrieval of a former US soldier captured by Colombian rebels three months ago, despite the cool response to his plan from that country's president.

Jackson said he still plans to travel to Colombia in the coming days in hopes of negotiating a cease-fire for a patch of jungle where US citizen Kevin Scott Sutay can be picked up safely.

The guerrilla army known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has repeatedly called for a halt to hostilities during peace talks being carried out in Havana since November, but Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has refused.

Jackson said a lengthy pause in the fighting is not necessary for his mission.

Jackson announced on Saturday that he had accepted a FARC invitation to intervene in the case of Sutay, who was detained by the rebels while hiking through the jungle in June.

According to the FARC, Sutay was wearing military fatigues and carrying surveillance equipment.

Jackson said the guerrillas told him that Sutay is "free to leave," but the logistics of that happening safely have to be worked out.

"We need the ceasefire zone and the capacity to retrieve him," Jackson told reporters after meeting with FARC leadership in Havana's Hotel Nacional on Sunday.

Following the announcement on Saturday, Santos said on Twitter that "only the Red Cross will be authorised to facilitate the handover of the North American kidnapped by the FARC. We will not allow a media spectacle."

Santos has repeatedly said he would not send public figures to retrieve Sutay, insisting it be done discreetly by the International Red Cross.

The Red Cross in Colombia sought to stay out of the fray.

Jackson expressed the hope the talks in Cuba will yield a peace agreement and said he remains optimistic a deal can be negotiated on Sutay.

He said on Sunday that he felt Santos had been "full of goodwill" following meetings between the two about Sutay in Colombia two weeks ago, and said he felt the Colombian president really did want to resolve the issue.

AP TELEVISION

1. Various of Reverend Jesse Jackson walking accompanied by FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) leadership, FARC lead negotiator in peace talks with Colombian government Ivan Marquez (left) walking next to Jackson

2. Wide of Jackson coming out of hotel to address the media

3. Jackson with media

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Activist and Baptist Minister:

++Simultaneous Spanish translation++

"We still intend to go to Colombia in a matter of days to retrieve Kevin Scott. Today he is free to leave, but we need the ceasefire zone and the capacity to retrieve him."

5. Wide of Jackson with media

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Activist and Baptist Minister:

++Simultaneous Spanish translation++

"When I met with Mr. Santos (Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos) I thought he was full of goodwill. I think he really wants it solved, but he's trying to avoid a diversion. And I really think all of us are, so we need not point a finger at him. We want to relieve any unnecessary or unfounded fears he may have."

7. Jackson with media

Cuba announced on Thursday it's expanding Internet access by adding Wi-Fi capacity to dozens of state-run Internet centres and more than halving the cost that users pay for an hour online.

The announcement is the first significant expansion of the internet on the island since the United States and Cuba agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations in December.

Thirty-five government computer centres around the country will have Wi-Fi starting next month, and the price of one hour online would drop to 2 US dollars from 4.50 US dollars now, the Communist government said.

That price remains unaffordable for most Cubans but the change would represent a significant improvement in access for many people.

Home Internet remains illegal for most of the Cuban population and online access at offices with Internet is highly limited and controlled.

AP TELEVISION

Havana - 18 June 2015

1. Cubans surfing the internet at Wi-Fi (wireless internet) hotspot, Cuban flag painted on wall

2. Close of people using mobile phones

3. Various of Cubans gathered at Wi-Fi hotspot

4. Close of laptop

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Eliecer Mesa, Cuban student:

"The internet is a network, a worldwide computing system, and it's good that we have access to everything the internet represents, so we can communicate with the whole world."

6. Young women surfing the internet

7. Close of tablet

8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Yoan Llannes, Havana resident:

"The first thing they need to improve now is the (internet) service. The download speed is a little slow sometimes and you spend the 4.50 (US dollars, referring to the price of one hour online) very quickly when you connect to pages like Facebook or Twitter. The prices should keep going down."

9. Close of mobile phone

10. People walking on street near Wi-Fi hotspot

11. Cars passing by street, people waiting to cross

A Twitter-like Cuban social media network that the U.S. government built to stir unrest was a "cockamamie" idea doomed to discovery and failure, the chairman of a Senate panel that oversees the U.S. Agency for International Development declared Tuesday. He said the agency didn't adequately describe to Congress the program it was secretly operating.

A key question for the hearings is whether the program endangered its users by concealing that the U.S. government was behind it. The network was publicly launched shortly after the 2009 arrest in Cuba of American contractor Alan Gross. He was imprisoned there after traveling repeatedly on a separate, clandestine USAID mission to expand Cuban Internet access using sensitive technology that only governments use.

His voice rising in anger at moments, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said, "while we debate what USAID is doing in Cuba, US citizen Alan Gross remains in solitary confinement in his fifth year in capacity, solely because he was carrying out a USAID program which was dumb in its inception." He also said that from its inception, the program had "no possibility of working."

Rajiv Shah, USAID's top official, said the program, disclosed last week by The Associated Press, was part of the administration's efforts to provide new digital methods to increase the flow of information in and out of Cuba. Shah said the effort operated "discreetly" and was described in congressional budget justifications. But Leahy interrupted Shah to say he had read those budget documents.

"If you could figure out it meant this, you're doing a lot better job than most of us," Leahy said.

An Associated Press investigation last week revealed that USAID oversaw the creation of the text message-based service, dubbed ZunZuneo for the sound made by a Cuban hummingbird. USAID and its contractors went to extensive lengths to conceal Washington's ties to the project, according to interviews and documents obtained by the AP.

Shah said the AP's report had a number of critical inaccuracies, but he was not asked to describe them and did not specify his complaints. Though he could not say who came up with the idea for Zunzuneo, he said the agency operates transparently and was "absolutely not" operating a covert program.

POOL

Washington - April 8, 2014

1. Wide of Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entering the chambers and shaking hands with Sen. Patrick Leahy, the chairman of a Senate panel that oversees the agency

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"While we debate what USAID is doing in Cuba, US citizen Alan Gross remains in solitary confinement in his fifth year in capacity, solely because he was carrying out a USAID program which was dumb in its inception."

3. Wide of the Senate panel at the hearing

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"The program was designed in 2007 and 2008, in that time frame. That said the legislation that crafts the purpose of the program -- (Sen. Leahy: No, whose idea was it for this specific program? I read the legislation. The legislation doesn't say anything about setting up a cockamamie idea in Cuba with Twitter accounts and all in something that the Cubans would be so easy to discover. Whose idea was this specific program to go to Cuba? Who? It's a simple question.) Um, sir, the program was in place before I arrived (Sen. Leahy: But do you know whose idea it was? I know it was in place before and I said that before in my opening statement before you arrived but do you know whose idea it was?) I -- well first let me say and I know this is important sir and I greatly respect your point of view but that AP story had a number of critical inaccuracies. (Sen. Leahy: I've read USAID's statement and I'll put that in the record, I'll tell you what, I'll put it in the record, both your response to the AP story and the AP story. Having said that, do you know whose idea it was?) I do not specifically, but I'll say this. Working on creating platforms to improve communication in Cuba and many other parts of the world is a core part of what USAID has done for some time and continues to do. Our administration's policy is to continue to support efforts to allow for open communications. To the extent that the AP story and any other comment creates the impression that this effort or any other goes beyond that for other ulterior purposes. That is simply inaccurate. (Sen. Leahy: Was it a covert program?) Absolutely not. It was conducted (Sen. Leahy: And was anyone at the US interests section of the Department of State or the White House aware of the facts of this program?) This program has been notified publicly in Congressional budget justifications dating back to 2008. (Sen. Leahy: I've read those and when I talk about bureaucrats, if you can figure out it mean this, you're doing a lot better job than most of us."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 8 April 2014

5. Mid of Sen. Coats and Sen. Boozman at the hearing

POOL

Washington - 8 April 2014

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"They don't always work and I'll be the first to admit that, but often they do. (Sen. Leahy: This one from the get go had no possibility of working. That's my problem."

7. Mid of Shah getting up after the hearing

POOL

Washington - April 8, 2014

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"While we debate what USAID is doing in Cuba, US citizen Alan Gross remains in solitary confinement in his fifth year in capacity, solely because he was carrying out a USAID program which was dumb in its inception."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"The program was designed in 2007 and 2008, in that time frame. That said the legislation that crafts the purpose of the program -- (Sen. Leahy: No, whose idea was it for this specific program? I read the legislation. The legislation doesn't say anything about setting up a cockamamie idea in Cuba with Twitter accounts and all in something that the Cubans would be so easy to discover."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - April 8, 2014

3. Mid of Sen. Coats and Sen. Boozman at the hearing

POOL

Washington - April 8, 2014

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"Working on creating platforms to improve communication in Cuba and many other parts of the world is a core part of what USAID has done for some time and continues to do. Our administration's policy is to continue to support efforts to allow for open communications. To the extent that the AP story and any other comment creates the impression that this effort or any other goes beyond that for other ulterior purposes. That is simply inaccurate. (Sen. Leahy: Was it a covert program?) Absolutely not. It was conducted (Sen. Leahy: And was anyone at the US interests section of the Department of State or the White House aware of the facts of this program?) This program has been notified publicly in Congressional budget justifications dating back to 2008. (Sen. Leahy: I've read those and when I talk about bureaucrats, if you can figure out it mean this, you're doing a lot better job than most of us."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus008455

A Twitter-like Cuban social media network that the U.S. government built to stir unrest was a "cockamamie" idea doomed to discovery and failure, the chairman of a Senate panel that oversees the U.S. Agency for International Development declared Tuesday. He said the agency didn't adequately describe to Congress the program it was secretly operating.

A key question for the hearings is whether the program endangered its users by concealing that the U.S. government was behind it. The network was publicly launched shortly after the 2009 arrest in Cuba of American contractor Alan Gross. He was imprisoned there after traveling repeatedly on a separate, clandestine USAID mission to expand Cuban Internet access using sensitive technology that only governments use.

His voice rising in anger at moments, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said, "while we debate what USAID is doing in Cuba, US citizen Alan Gross remains in solitary confinement in his fifth year in capacity, solely because he was carrying out a USAID program which was dumb in its inception." He also said that from its inception, the program had "no possibility of working."

Rajiv Shah, USAID's top official, said the program, disclosed last week by The Associated Press, was part of the administration's efforts to provide new digital methods to increase the flow of information in and out of Cuba. Shah said the effort operated "discreetly" and was described in congressional budget justifications. But Leahy interrupted Shah to say he had read those budget documents.

"If you could figure out it meant this, you're doing a lot better job than most of us," Leahy said.

An Associated Press investigation last week revealed that USAID oversaw the creation of the text message-based service, dubbed ZunZuneo for the sound made by a Cuban hummingbird. USAID and its contractors went to extensive lengths to conceal Washington's ties to the project, according to interviews and documents obtained by the AP.

Shah said the AP's report had a number of critical inaccuracies, but he was not asked to describe them and did not specify his complaints. Though he could not say who came up with the idea for Zunzuneo, he said the agency operates transparently and was "absolutely not" operating a covert program.

POOL

Washington - April 8, 2014

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"While we debate what USAID is doing in Cuba, US citizen Alan Gross remains in solitary confinement in his fifth year in capacity, solely because he was carrying out a USAID program which was dumb in its inception."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"The program was designed in 2007 and 2008, in that time frame. That said the legislation that crafts the purpose of the program -- (Sen. Leahy: No, whose idea was it for this specific program? I read the legislation. The legislation doesn't say anything about setting up a cockamamie idea in Cuba with Twitter accounts and all in something that the Cubans would be so easy to discover."

AP TELEVISION

Washington - April 8, 2014

3. Mid of Sen. Coats and Sen. Boozman at the hearing

POOL

Washington - April 8, 2014

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator:

"Working on creating platforms to improve communication in Cuba and many other parts of the world is a core part of what USAID has done for some time and continues to do. Our administration's policy is to continue to support efforts to allow for open communications. To the extent that the AP story and any other comment creates the impression that this effort or any other goes beyond that for other ulterior purposes. That is simply inaccurate. (Sen. Leahy: Was it a covert program?) Absolutely not. It was conducted (Sen. Leahy: And was anyone at the US interests section of the Department of State or the White House aware of the facts of this program?) This program has been notified publicly in Congressional budget justifications dating back to 2008. (Sen. Leahy: I've read those and when I talk about bureaucrats, if you can figure out it mean this, you're doing a lot better job than most of us."

Colombia's government and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia say they have agreed on the return of a handful of children living in the group's camps to civilian life.

Negotiators working on a peace deal in Havana said Sunday evening that they had agreed to move children younger than 15 out of the FARC's camps.

The head of the rebels' negotiating team told Colombian media last year that there were 13 children younger than 15 living among FARC fighters.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos praised the agreement on his Twitter account, calling it "historic."

The two sides have been negotiating a peace accord since 2012 that would end their more-than 50 year war.

They missed a deadline for a final deal two months ago and have yet to reach agreement on a cease-fire and the disarming and demobilizing of rebels into temporary protected zones.

Colombia's government and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia say they have agreed on the return of a handful of children living in the group's camps to civilian life.

Negotiators working on a peace deal in Havana said Sunday evening that they had agreed to move children younger than 15 out of the FARC's camps.

The head of the rebels' negotiating team told Colombian media last year that there were 13 children younger than 15 living among FARC fighters.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos praised the agreement on his Twitter account, calling it "historic."

The two sides have been negotiating a peace accord since 2012 that would end their more-than 50 year war.

They missed a deadline for a final deal two months ago and have yet to reach agreement on a cease-fire and the disarming and demobilizing of rebels into temporary protected zones.

Havana – 15 May 2016

1. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) lead negotiator Ivan Marquez and Colombian government's lead negotiator Humberto de la Calle shaking hands before news conference

2. United Nations representative Leila Serrougui (left) and other officials

3. Colombian Foreign Minister Paula Gaviria seated before news conference

4. FARC and Colombian government negotiators seated before news conference

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ivan Marquez, top FARC commander and lead negotiator:

"Today, the government and the FARC reached a new agreement which will free underage children from the rigors of the conflict. We hope this decision will become the basis for all Colombians to become aware of the urgency to protect the rights of girls, boys and teenagers in the country."

6. De la Calle during news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Humberto de la Calle, Colombian government's lead negotiator:

"Three important measures have been announced: the exit of children younger than 15 years old from the (FARC) camps, the creation of a plan to allow the progressive disassociation of all minors under 18, and the creation of a comprehensive program to provide the best care to these children who leave the war."

8. Serrougui giving speech

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Leila Serrougui, United Nations Representative:

"I call on all Colombian people to support this agreement, and to see this as a crucial element in constructing a durable peace for your country, and ensuring guarantees for non-repetition"

10. Pan right meeting

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS TWITTER ACCOUNT - AP CLIENTS ONLY

16 May 2016

11. Various screen grabs of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos' Twitter account welcoming the agreement

12. Screen grab of Santos' tweet reading (Spanish) "We reached a historic agreement in Havana to take children away from war"

Cuban dissidents, along with their relatives and supporters, said on Friday that the island's government had this week freed at least 38 people on a US list of imprisoned opposition members.

US officials said after weeks of virtual silence that those released were on the list of 53.

Ben Rhodes, the deputy US national security adviser who negotiated the releases as part of a broader detente with Cuba, said on Twitter: "The United States welcomes the substantial and ongoing releases of prisoners in Cuba - so good to see people reunited with their families."

One of the dissidents released was Miguel Alberto Ulloa, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday.

"For many years President (Raul) Castro has kept it (Cuba) practically out of touch from the rest of the world," he said.

"One of the things (US President Barack) Obama said is that something could occur (referring to improved diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US) but only as long as there is democracy and freedom of expression, something that still doesn't exist in Cuba," he added.

A Miami-based Cuba-American group has said three other dissidents on the list were freed last month, for a total of 41 to be let go.

Wilberto Parada, another of the dissidents released this week, said: "I do what I do for my own moral beliefs, I am not an agent of the United States. I am a free man, I have my own thoughts, I am in Cuba and I am a Cuban."

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 9 January, 2015

1. Hand-painted message on water tank at the home of released Cuban dissident Miguel Alberto Ulloa reading (Spanish) "Change"

2. Hand-painted message on water tank reading (English) "USA-Cuba"

3. Ulloa and his relatives (Ulloa is wearing a red T-shirt and carrying his son) walking next to water tank

4. Close of Ulloa's release papers; Ulloa is pointing to text reading (Spanish) "Cause of release: Probation"

5. Ulloa sitting on the sofa with his wife Tailadys Perez their son

6. Ulloa's relatives watching as he talks to reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Miguel Alberto Ulloa, released political prisoner:

"For many years President (Raul) Castro has kept it (Cuba) practically out of touch from the rest of the world. One of the things (US President Barack) Obama said is that something could occur (referring to improved diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US) but only as long as there is democracy and freedom of expression, something that still doesn't exist in Cuba."

8. Ulloa's relatives listening to interview

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maribel Ginal, mother of released political prisoner Miguel Alberto Ulloa:

"I think they (government authorities) should respect the agreements (between Cuba and the US), and that it could benefit those who think like this (referring to dissidents), and for more freedom of expression."

10. People and traffic on Havana street

11. Various of released political prisoner Wilberto Parada hugging wife and son inside their home

12. Handwritten message on wall inside living room reading (Spanish) "Jehovah is my shepherd. I shall lack nothing."

13. Parada seen reflected in mirror, handwritten message on wall reading (Spanish) "Jehovah is with me like a mighty giant"

14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Wilberto Parada, released political prisoner:

"I do what I do for my own moral beliefs, I am not an agent of the United States. I am a free man, I have my own thoughts, I am in Cuba and I am a Cuban."

15. Cutaway of Parada and family

16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Yudisnel Rodriguez, Wilberto Parada's wife:

"This was terrible, what we have gone through. All the suffering and injustice hurts a lot. The injustice hurts quite a lot."

17. Parada standing with wife and son on street

18. Parada greeting neighbours

19. Cuban flag draped from balcony

20. Wide of Cuban street

IN MARCH, BARACK OBAMA WILL BECOME THE FIRST SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO SET FOOT ON CUBA IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT SEEN AS A KEY NEXT STEP TOWARD BRIDGING THE HALF-CENTURY DIVIDE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser:

"The president's judgment was that number one: going to Cuba was an important step forward in signaling this new beginning between our two countries and peoples and also importantly, that going to Cuba could help enlarge this space that benefits the Cuban people."

SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division:

"His visit will represent a step forward in the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States. Of course, in order to achieve the normalization of relations between the two countries, the blockade has to be lifted and the territory occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo has to be returned."

OFFICIAL WORD OF THE UPCOMING LATIN AMERICAN TRIP, INCLUDING A STOP IN HAVANA - COMING FIRST VIA THE PRESIDENT'S OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT.

HE SAYS HIS UPCOMING VISIT WILL ADVANCE US EFFORTS TO RESTORE TIES WITH THE COMMUNIST NATION AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CUBANS.

THOUGH OBAMA HAD LONG BEEN EXPECTED TO VISIT CUBA IN HIS FINAL YEAR, WORD OF HIS TRAVEL PLANS DREW IMMEDIATE RESISTANCE FROM OPPONENTS OF WARMER TIES WITH CUBA - INCLUDING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate:

"You would like to think that they would kind of do something good, like free political prisoners, opening up freedom of expression and all of those kinds of things and so, I am disappointed in that."

SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March:

"I believe that it would be much smarter, or would have been much smarter, to wait until they had a change in leadership which has to be coming pretty soon because Raul Castro is 83 or 84 years old ... at that time you have a lot of leverage."

OBAMA AND CUBAN PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO BEGAN TO THAW RELATIONS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

SINCE THEN, EMBASSIES HAVE REOPENED AND STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO RESTORE COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THERE ARE STILL 'SERIOUS DIFFERENCES' WITH THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HISTORIAN'S OFFICE SAYS PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN VISITED THE U.S.-CONTROLLED GUANTANAMO BAY AND ITS NAVAL BASE ON THE ISLAND IN 1948 AND FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER HAS PAID MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE ISLAND SINCE LEAVING OFFICE IN JANUARY 1981.

BUT NOT SINCE PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE WENT TO HAVANA IN JANUARY 1928 HAS A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT BEEN TO THAT CITY.

OBAMA'S CUBA VISIT IS PLANNED FOR MARCH 21ST AND 22ND.

TRACY BROWN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

IN MARCH, BARACK OBAMA WILL BECOME THE FIRST SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO SET FOOT ON CUBA IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT SEEN AS A KEY NEXT STEP TOWARD BRIDGING THE HALF-CENTURY DIVIDE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser:

"The president's judgment was that number one: going to Cuba was an important step forward in signaling this new beginning between our two countries and peoples and also importantly, that going to Cuba could help enlarge this space that benefits the Cuban people."

SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division:

"His visit will represent a step forward in the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States. Of course, in order to achieve the normalization of relations between the two countries, the blockade has to be lifted and the territory occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo has to be returned."

OFFICIAL WORD OF THE UPCOMING LATIN AMERICAN TRIP, INCLUDING A STOP IN HAVANA - COMING FIRST VIA THE PRESIDENT'S OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT.

HE SAYS HIS UPCOMING VISIT WILL ADVANCE US EFFORTS TO RESTORE TIES WITH THE COMMUNIST NATION AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CUBANS.

THOUGH OBAMA HAD LONG BEEN EXPECTED TO VISIT CUBA IN HIS FINAL YEAR, WORD OF HIS TRAVEL PLANS DREW IMMEDIATE RESISTANCE FROM OPPONENTS OF WARMER TIES WITH CUBA - INCLUDING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate:

"You would like to think that they would kind of do something good, like free political prisoners, opening up freedom of expression and all of those kinds of things and so, I am disappointed in that."

SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March:

"I believe that it would be much smarter, or would have been much smarter, to wait until they had a change in leadership which has to be coming pretty soon because Raul Castro is 83 or 84 years old ... at that time you have a lot of leverage."

OBAMA AND CUBAN PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO BEGAN TO THAW RELATIONS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

SINCE THEN, EMBASSIES HAVE REOPENED AND STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO RESTORE COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THERE ARE STILL 'SERIOUS DIFFERENCES' WITH THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HISTORIAN'S OFFICE SAYS PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN VISITED THE U.S.-CONTROLLED GUANTANAMO BAY AND ITS NAVAL BASE ON THE ISLAND IN 1948 AND FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER HAS PAID MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE ISLAND SINCE LEAVING OFFICE IN JANUARY 1981.

BUT NOT SINCE PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE WENT TO HAVANA IN JANUARY 1928 HAS A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT BEEN TO THAT CITY.

OBAMA'S CUBA VISIT IS PLANNED FOR MARCH 21ST AND 22ND.

TRACY BROWN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

POOL

Los Angeles, California - 12 February 2016

1. Various, President Barack Obama walks across the tarmac from Marine One before boarding Air Force One

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 18 February 2016

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

4. Graphic from statement released by Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor

5. Various views, Obama's twitter page and statement

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 17 December 2014

6. Mid, view of port

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

7. Graphic showing Capitol Hill, US-Cuban flags and twitter comment from Sen. Ted Cruz

AP TELEVISION

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina - 18 February 2016

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Orangeburg, South Carolina - 18 February, 2016

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 17 December 2014

10. Split screen showing President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro making announcement

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 19 July 2015

11. Cuban flag being raised at re-opened embassy

AP TELEVISION

Havana - 16 February 2016

12. US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx shaking hands with Cuban Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez after signing aviation agreement

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 17 December 2014

13. Various views of people, traffic in Malecon beach front area

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

14. Graphic showing photograph of President Harry Truman (January 1948) over image of Guantanamo Bay

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 30 March 2011

15. Pan left of Cuban President Raul Castro and Former US President Jimmy Carter walking towards plane at airport

AP PHOTOS

Havana, Cuba - 19 January 1928

16. STILL IMAGES U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, second from left, and his wife, first lady Grace Coolidge, third from left, are shown with the President of Cuba General Gerardo Machado y Morales, right, and his wife, Elvira Machado, left, walk on the estate of President Machado

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 10 November 2015

17. Various views, "Revolution Square"

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus048822

IN MARCH, BARACK OBAMA WILL BECOME THE FIRST SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO SET FOOT ON CUBA IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT SEEN AS A KEY NEXT STEP TOWARD BRIDGING THE HALF-CENTURY DIVIDE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser:

"The president's judgment was that number one: going to Cuba was an important step forward in signaling this new beginning between our two countries and peoples and also importantly, that going to Cuba could help enlarge this space that benefits the Cuban people."

SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division:

"His visit will represent a step forward in the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States. Of course, in order to achieve the normalization of relations between the two countries, the blockade has to be lifted and the territory occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo has to be returned."

OFFICIAL WORD OF THE UPCOMING LATIN AMERICAN TRIP, INCLUDING A STOP IN HAVANA - COMING FIRST VIA THE PRESIDENT'S OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT.

HE SAYS HIS UPCOMING VISIT WILL ADVANCE US EFFORTS TO RESTORE TIES WITH THE COMMUNIST NATION AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CUBANS.

THOUGH OBAMA HAD LONG BEEN EXPECTED TO VISIT CUBA IN HIS FINAL YEAR, WORD OF HIS TRAVEL PLANS DREW IMMEDIATE RESISTANCE FROM OPPONENTS OF WARMER TIES WITH CUBA - INCLUDING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate:

"You would like to think that they would kind of do something good, like free political prisoners, opening up freedom of expression and all of those kinds of things and so, I am disappointed in that."

SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March:

"I believe that it would be much smarter, or would have been much smarter, to wait until they had a change in leadership which has to be coming pretty soon because Raul Castro is 83 or 84 years old ... at that time you have a lot of leverage."

OBAMA AND CUBAN PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO BEGAN TO THAW RELATIONS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

SINCE THEN, EMBASSIES HAVE REOPENED AND STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO RESTORE COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THERE ARE STILL 'SERIOUS DIFFERENCES' WITH THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HISTORIAN'S OFFICE SAYS PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN VISITED THE U.S.-CONTROLLED GUANTANAMO BAY AND ITS NAVAL BASE ON THE ISLAND IN 1948 AND FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER HAS PAID MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE ISLAND SINCE LEAVING OFFICE IN JANUARY 1981.

BUT NOT SINCE PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE WENT TO HAVANA IN JANUARY 1928 HAS A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT BEEN TO THAT CITY.

OBAMA'S CUBA VISIT IS PLANNED FOR MARCH 21ST AND 22ND.

TRACY BROWN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus048822

IN MARCH, BARACK OBAMA WILL BECOME THE FIRST SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO SET FOOT ON CUBA IN MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT SEEN AS A KEY NEXT STEP TOWARD BRIDGING THE HALF-CENTURY DIVIDE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser:

"The president's judgment was that number one: going to Cuba was an important step forward in signaling this new beginning between our two countries and peoples and also importantly, that going to Cuba could help enlarge this space that benefits the Cuban people."

SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division:

"His visit will represent a step forward in the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States. Of course, in order to achieve the normalization of relations between the two countries, the blockade has to be lifted and the territory occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo has to be returned."

OFFICIAL WORD OF THE UPCOMING LATIN AMERICAN TRIP, INCLUDING A STOP IN HAVANA - COMING FIRST VIA THE PRESIDENT'S OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT.

HE SAYS HIS UPCOMING VISIT WILL ADVANCE US EFFORTS TO RESTORE TIES WITH THE COMMUNIST NATION AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CUBANS.

THOUGH OBAMA HAD LONG BEEN EXPECTED TO VISIT CUBA IN HIS FINAL YEAR, WORD OF HIS TRAVEL PLANS DREW IMMEDIATE RESISTANCE FROM OPPONENTS OF WARMER TIES WITH CUBA - INCLUDING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate:

"You would like to think that they would kind of do something good, like free political prisoners, opening up freedom of expression and all of those kinds of things and so, I am disappointed in that."

SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March:

"I believe that it would be much smarter, or would have been much smarter, to wait until they had a change in leadership which has to be coming pretty soon because Raul Castro is 83 or 84 years old ... at that time you have a lot of leverage."

OBAMA AND CUBAN PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO BEGAN TO THAW RELATIONS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

SINCE THEN, EMBASSIES HAVE REOPENED AND STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO RESTORE COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THERE ARE STILL 'SERIOUS DIFFERENCES' WITH THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HISTORIAN'S OFFICE SAYS PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN VISITED THE U.S.-CONTROLLED GUANTANAMO BAY AND ITS NAVAL BASE ON THE ISLAND IN 1948 AND FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER HAS PAID MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE ISLAND SINCE LEAVING OFFICE IN JANUARY 1981.

BUT NOT SINCE PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE WENT TO HAVANA IN JANUARY 1928 HAS A SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT BEEN TO THAT CITY.

OBAMA'S CUBA VISIT IS PLANNED FOR MARCH 21ST AND 22ND.

TRACY BROWN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

POOL

Los Angeles, California - 12 February 2016

1. Various, President Barack Obama walks across the tarmac from Marine One before boarding Air Force One

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 18 February 2016

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Josefina Vidal, Director of the Cuban Foreign Ministry's United States Division: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

4. Graphic from statement released by Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor

5. Various views, Obama's twitter page and statement

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 17 December 2014

6. Mid, view of port

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

7. Graphic showing Capitol Hill, US-Cuban flags and twitter comment from Sen. Ted Cruz

AP TELEVISION

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina - 18 February 2016

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gov. John Kasich, Republican presidential candidate: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Orangeburg, South Carolina - 18 February, 2016

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Dr. Ben Carson on the announcement that President Barak Obama will visit Cuba in March:

"I believe that it would be much smarter, or would have been much smarter, to wait until they had a change in leadership which has to be coming pretty soon because Raul Castro is 83 or 84 years old."

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 17 December 2014

10. Split screen showing President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro making announcement

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 19 July 2015

11. Cuban flag being raised at re-opened embassy

AP TELEVISION

Havana - 16 February 2016

12. US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx shaking hands with Cuban Transportation Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez after signing aviation agreement

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 17 December 2014

13. Various views of people, traffic in Malecon beach front area

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 18 February 2016

14. Graphic showing photograph of President Harry Truman (January 1948) over image of Guantanamo Bay

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 30 March 2011

15. Pan left of Cuban President Raul Castro and Former US President Jimmy Carter walking towards plane at airport

AP PHOTOS

Havana, Cuba - 19 January 1928

16. STILL IMAGES U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, second from left, and his wife, first lady Grace Coolidge, third from left, are shown with the President of Cuba General Gerardo Machado y Morales, right, and his wife, Elvira Machado, left, walk on the estate of President Machado

AP TELEVISION

Havana, Cuba - 10 November 2015

17. Various views, "Revolution Square"

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

AP TELEVISION – AP CLIENTS ONLY

Mexico City, Mexico – 9 November 2016

1. Pull focus from newspaper cover with image of Donald Trump to people walking in street

2. Man reading newspaper headlines, some with Trump's face on cover

3. Man reading newspaper headlines

4. Newspaper cover with Trump with clown nose, reading (Spanish) "Trump leads and the peso goes down to 21 (pesos to the dollar)

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Luis Gerardo Ramos, Mexico City resident:

"Technically, a wall is possible, it can be constructed, but politically and socially, I think it's impossible. It was a political speech but I don't think it will take place but I'll repeat Donald Trump is not the person who is to blame for Mexico's problems."

6. Angel of Independence monument

7. Close of angel statue

8. People walking

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Oswaldo Nolasco, Mexico City resident:

"I think as many people, we expected something different than what happened. The result is not something good for Mexico, according to the comments this man has made. Let's hope things don't develop the way he wants. The people in his own party are not too much in agreement with the decisions he wants to take, let's hope that will help us a bit. At the end, it's the speculation that's making us (Mexico) go to high currency exchange levels, which hurts us."

10. Tilt from man with variety of newspapers, to people passing by

11. Close of newspaper cover reading (Spanish) "Time to tremble"

++MUTE FROM SOURCE++

12. Screen of Twitter account for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto

13. Close of series of Tweets (Spanish) "I trust that Mexico and the United States will continue to extend their arms of cooperation and mutual respect", "Mexico and the United States are friends, partners and allies that must continue collaborating for the competitiveness and development of North America," "I congratulate the United States for its electoral process and y reiterate to @realDonaldTrump the willingness to work together in favor of bilateral relations"

AP TELEVISION – AP CLIENTS ONLY

Havana, Cuba - 9 November, 2016

14. Exterior of US Embassy

15. Close US flag

16. Various of people outside US Consular Section

17. Ernesto Gonzalez, Veterinarian, standing

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ernesto Gonzalez, Veterinarian:

"I do believe that the Cuban Adjustment Act, (called) wet foot dry foot, is in jeopardy with President (elect) (Donald) Trump, yes, it's in jeopardy."

18. Various of people seeking visas gathered outside in park

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Caracas, Venezuela - 9 November, 2016

19. Various people walking in Altamira square

20. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Laura Lombardi, Caracas resident:

"I hope that Trump's position about the Venezuelan government will be more severe that Obama's administration. Severe to demand Venezuela the commitment to democracy that Venezuela has with the rest of the world, not only with the United States, also with its own population."

21. People waiting for the bus

22. Cristina Carrasquero, travel agent, waiting for the bus

23. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Cristina Carrasquero, Caracas resident:

"Let's see how the American nationalism is. Venezuelans sought a nationalism that led to a dictatorship. Let's see where this American nationalism, with the Uncle Sam, will take them in the 21st Century."

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Buenos Aires, Argentina - 9 November 2016

24 .Various of front pages of most widely read local newspapers sitting in news stand all with headlines referring to Trump victory in US elections

25. People walking past news kiosk

26. Man sitting outside cafe

27. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Alejandro Ordonez, banker:

"Here in Argentina we have to see how all of this pans out regarding the development of trade. I think it will take a year, a year and a half before we know the consequences. Above all how it is going to affect interest rates, I think they will go up and the national debt here in Argentina, I think it is going to have a very negative effect."

28. Exterior of Argentina foreign ministry with water fountain in foreground

STORYLINE:

Latin Americans reacted on Wednesday following the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States.

While Mexico began carefully laying the groundwork for a relationship with a new leader who campaigned against its citizens and threatened to wreak havoc with its economy, some residents said it's unlikely that a border wall will actually occur.

"Politically and socially, I think it's impossible," said Luis Gerardo Ramos, a resident in Mexico City, adding that Mexico's problems cannot be blamed on Trump.

Meanwhile in Havana, the usual crowd gathered outside the US Embassy seemed more concerned about completing the visa process than who will occupy the White House for the next four years.

A few, however, expressed concern a Trump administration could overturn what has been a more than two-year-old normalisation process between the Cold War foes.

Others in Venezuela and Argentina said they wanted to see what a Trump victory would actually mean for the United States and their respective countries.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.

Latin Americans reacted on Wednesday following the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States.

While Mexico began carefully laying the groundwork for a relationship with a new leader who campaigned against its citizens and threatened to wreak havoc with its economy, some residents said it's unlikely that a border wall will actually occur.

"Politically and socially, I think it's impossible," said Luis Gerardo Ramos, a resident in Mexico City, adding that Mexico's problems cannot be blamed on Trump.

Meanwhile in Havana, the usual crowd gathered outside the US Embassy seemed more concerned about completing the visa process than who will occupy the White House for the next four years.

A few, however, expressed concern a Trump administration could overturn what has been a more than two-year-old normalisation process between the Cold War foes.

Others in Venezuela and Argentina said they wanted to see what a Trump victory would actually mean for the United States and their respective countries.

Mexico City, Mexico – 9 November 2016

1. Pull focus from newspaper cover with image of Donald Trump to people walking in street

2. Man reading newspaper headlines, some with Trump's face on cover

3. Man reading newspaper headlines

4. Newspaper cover with Trump with clown nose, reading (Spanish) "Trump leads and the peso goes down to 21 (pesos to the dollar)

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Luis Gerardo Ramos, Mexico City resident:

"Technically, a wall is possible, it can be constructed, but politically and socially, I think it's impossible. It was a political speech but I don't think it will take place but I'll repeat Donald Trump is not the person who is to blame for Mexico's problems."

6. Angel of Independence monument

7. Close of angel statue

8. People walking

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Oswaldo Nolasco, Mexico City resident:

"I think as many people, we expected something different than what happened. The result is not something good for Mexico, according to the comments this man has made. Let's hope things don't develop the way he wants. The people in his own party are not too much in agreement with the decisions he wants to take, let's hope that will help us a bit. At the end, it's the speculation that's making us (Mexico) go to high currency exchange levels, which hurts us."

10. Tilt from man with variety of newspapers, to people passing by

11. Close of newspaper cover reading (Spanish) "Time to tremble"

++MUTE FROM SOURCE++

12. Screen of Twitter account for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto

13. Close of series of Tweets (Spanish) "I trust that Mexico and the United States will continue to extend their arms of cooperation and mutual respect", "Mexico and the United States are friends, partners and allies that must continue collaborating for the competitiveness and development of North America," "I congratulate the United States for its electoral process and y reiterate to @realDonaldTrump the willingness to work together in favor of bilateral relations"

Havana, Cuba - 9 November, 2016

14. Exterior of US Embassy

15. Close US flag

16. Various of people outside US Consular Section

17. Ernesto Gonzalez, Veterinarian, standing

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ernesto Gonzalez, Veterinarian:

"I do believe that the Cuban Adjustment Act, (called) wet foot dry foot, is in jeopardy with President (elect) (Donald) Trump, yes, it's in jeopardy."

18. Various of people seeking visas gathered outside in park

Caracas, Venezuela - 9 November, 2016

19. Various people walking in Altamira square

20. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Laura Lombardi, Caracas resident:

"I hope that Trump's position about the Venezuelan government will be more severe that Obama's administration. Severe to demand Venezuela the commitment to democracy that Venezuela has with the rest of the world, not only with the United States, also with its own population."

21. People waiting for the bus

22. Cristina Carrasquero, travel agent, waiting for the bus

23. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Cristina Carrasquero, Caracas resident:

"Let's see how the American nationalism is. Venezuelans sought a nationalism that led to a dictatorship. Let's see where this American nationalism, with the Uncle Sam, will take them in the 21st Century."

Buenos Aires, Argentina - 9 November 2016

24 .Various of front pages of most widely read local newspapers sitting in news stand all with headlines referring to Trump victory in US elections

25. People walking past news kiosk

26. Man sitting outside cafe

27. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Alejandro Ordonez, banker:

"Here in Argentina we have to see how all of this pans out regarding the development of trade. I think it will take a year, a year and a half before we know the consequences. Above all how it is going to affect interest rates, I think they will go up and the national debt here in Argentina, I think it is going to have a very negative effect."

28. Exterior of Argentina foreign ministry with water fountain in foreground

SHOTLIST

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

1. Wide exterior of Nobel laureate and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo's house

2. Mid of police putting up cordon

3. Close of police car driving off

4. Mid of plain clothes police

5. Wide of Liu Xiaobo's apartment block

6. Mid of plainclothes police guarding entrance

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

7. Wide of computer screen showing Liu Xia's (wife of Liu Xiaobo) twitter page

8. Close of Liu Xia's username

9. Wide scrolling of Liu's twitter messages

10. Close of her message reading (in Mandarin): "I have been harassed again, it's hard for me to log on"

11. Close of BBC news web address

12. Screen showing blocked BBC website

13. Close of error message reading (in English): "Connection to be reset"

14. Close of blacked out CNN channel on TV screen

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

15. Wide of newspaper stand

16. Man buying newspaper

17. Close of China Daily front page with other newspapers

18. Pan of China Daily headline reading (English): " 'Most nations' oppose peace prize to Liu"

Beijing - Dec 10, 2010

++16:9++

19. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) no name given, Vox Pop:

"This kind of political stuff, I don't know about."

(Reporter question: "What's your opinion?")

"I don't really understand politics." He shakes his hand and walks off

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

20. Anchor of BBC World News programme announcing a special programme, overlaid with close shot of Liu Xiaobo (from 24 July 2008) and then signal being cut off by Chinese authorities

Beijing - Dec 10, 2010

++16:9++

21. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Li Xiaojing, jewellery designer:

"For me from my perspective, it's the right decision."

(Reporter question: "why?")

"I can't say more about it, because some of his things are definitely different to current government officials."

Beijing - 10 December 2010

++16:9++

22. Wide of police behind police line outside the United Nations compound, police had sealed off the street to stop protesters and journalists entering

23. Wide of police and protesters, close of police hand obstructing camera

24. Mid of petitioners being escorted on to bus, pan as petitioners walk past police lines

25. Mid of policeman blocking camera view of petitioners

26. Wide of petitioners, police tape is lifted

27. Wide of petitioners being escorted on to bus

28. Mid of policemen

29. Wide of police walking past bus, plain clothed policeman blocks camera with hand

30. Close of petitioners on bus

31. Wide of bus driving away carrying petitioners

32. Wide of Norwegian embassy

33. Close of Norwegian flag

34. Mid of guard outside Norwegian Embassy

FILE: Jinzhou - October 10, 2010

++16:9++

35. Wide tracking shot of prison exterior where Liu is currently detained

36. Wide of prison exterior

FILE: Beijing - October 12, 2010

++4:3++

37. Close of person holding mobile phone on "speaker" setting, AUDIO SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Liu Xia, wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo: "He told me this prize should go to all the lost souls of May 4th, 1989 (Tiananmen massacre). He said that his heart was very heavy that the Tiananmen mothers couldn't get the prize. When he talked about them he started crying. He said his heart was very heavy."

FILE: Beijing - July 24, 2008

++4:3++

38. Mid of Liu walking in park before he was detained

39. Wide of Liu walking through park

FILE: Beijing - June 3, 2008

++4:3++

40. Close of Liu talking

41. Wide pan from Liu seated in hotel lobby to reporters he is talking to

STORYLINE

Chinese police were surrounding the home of the wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo on Friday in the hours before the award is due to be bestowed on the imprisoned writer.

Liu's wife Liu Xia has been under informal house arrest ever since October's announcement that her husband was being honoured with this year's award.

Uniformed officers guarded the entrance to the compound in which Liu Xia lives, checking the identities of all who entered.

About a dozen journalists stood outside while uniformed and plainclothes officers patrolled inside the wall of the residential compound in central Beijing.

Her phone has been cut off and friends, family and colleagues in the country's embattled dissident community have been placed under house arrest or tight surveillance and forbidden to leave the country.

Liu Xia who used to post regular twitter updates has not posted anything since mid October shortly after her husband's win was announced in Oslo.

Websites of news media CNN and BBC were blocked on Friday while TV reports of Liu Xiaobo were blacked out.

In a recent interview with Liu Xia, she said that Liu felt the prize shouldn't just go to him.

"He told me this prize should go to all the lost souls of May 4th, 1989 (Tiananmen massacre). He said that his heart was very heavy that the Tiananmen mothers couldn't get the prize. When he talked about them he started crying," she said.

Liu Xiaobo is still held in a prison outside of Beijing.

Liu's award has elicited a furious and wide-ranging response from Beijing, with daily tirades in state media and regular denouncements from Foreign Ministry officials.

Beijing has also pressured foreign diplomats to stay away from Friday's ceremony.

Its attempts to sabotage Friday's award ceremony in Oslo have sparked a backlash, with the governments of Serbia and the Philippines both receiving brickbats for caving in to Chinese demands.

China and 18 other countries have declined to attend, including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

At least 45 of 65 embassies in Oslo have accepted invitations.

The vilification campaign has rocketed Liu from relative obscurity to worldwide fame, in apparent contradiction to the communist leadership's desire to negate his influence with an 11-year prison sentence for sedition.

The term was handed down after he co-authored a bold appeal for human rights and multiparty democracy.

While Liu has faced the brunt of Beijing's condemnation, scores of other dissidents and independent social activists have also come under pressure.

Meanwhile, more than 50 petitioners gathered outside the United Nations compound in Beijing to protest on Friday.

The reasons for their protest were unclear, but a heavy police presence stopped the event.

The petitioners were asked to get on to a bus, and were taken away.

Police at the scene attempted to stop reporters filming.

SHOTLIST

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

1. Wide exterior of Nobel laureate and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo's house

2. Mid of police putting up cordon

3. Close of police car driving off

4. Mid of plain clothes police

5. Wide of Liu Xiaobo's apartment block

6. Mid of plainclothes police guarding entrance

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

7. Wide of computer screen showing Liu Xia's (wife of Liu Xiaobo) twitter page

8. Close of Liu Xia's username

9. Wide scrolling of Liu's twitter messages

10. Close of her message reading (in Mandarin): "I have been harassed again, it's hard for me to log on"

11. Close of BBC news web address

12. Screen showing blocked BBC website

13. Close of error message reading (in English): "Connection to be reset"

++4:3++

14. Close of blacked out CNN channel on TV screen

Beijing - December 10, 2010

++16:9++

15. Wide of newspaper stand

16. Man buying newspaper

17. Close of China Daily front page with other newspapers

18. Pan of China Daily headline reading (English): " 'Most nations' oppose peace prize to Liu"

19. Anchor of BBC World News programme announcing a special programme, overlaid with close shot of Liu Xiaobo and then signal being cut off by Chinese authorities

Beijing - 10 December 2010

20. Wide of police behind police line outside the United Nations compound, police had sealed off the street to stop protesters and journalists entering

21. Wide of police and protesters, close of police hand obstructing camera

22. Mid of petitioners being escorted on to bus, pan as petitioners walk past police lines

23. Mid of policeman blocking camera view of petitioners

24. Wide of petitioners, police tape is lifted

25. Wide of petitioners being escorted on to bus

26. Mid of policemen

27. Wide of police walking past bus, plain clothed policeman blocks camera with hand

28. Close of petitioners on bus

29. Wide of bus driving away carrying petitioners

30. Wide of Norwegian embassy

31. Close of Norwegian flag

32. Mid of guard outside Norwegian Embassy

FILE: Jinzhou - October 10, 2010

++16:9++

33. Wide tracking shot of prison exterior where Liu is currently detained

34. Wide of prison exterior

FILE: Beijing - October 12, 2010

++4:3++

35. Close of person holding mobile phone on "speaker" setting, AUDIO SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Liu Xia, wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo: "He told me this prize should go to all the lost souls of May 4th, 1989 (Tiananmen massacre). He said that his heart was very heavy that the Tiananmen mothers couldn't get the prize. When he talked about them he started crying. He said his heart was very heavy."

FILE: Beijing - July 24, 2008

++4:3++

36. Mid of Liu walking in park before he was detained

37. Wide of Liu walking through park

FILE: Beijing - June 3, 2008

++4:3++

38. Close of Liu talking

39. Wide pan from Liu seated in hotel lobby to reporters he is talking to

STORYLINE

Chinese police were surrounding the home of the wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo on Friday in the hours before the award is due to be bestowed on the imprisoned writer.

Liu's wife Liu Xia has been under informal house arrest ever since October's announcement that her husband was being honoured with this year's award.

Uniformed officers guarded the entrance to the compound in which Liu Xia lives, checking the identities of all who entered.

About a dozen journalists stood outside while uniformed and plainclothes officers patrolled inside the wall of the residential compound in central Beijing.

Her phone has been cut off and friends, family and colleagues in the country's embattled dissident community have been placed under house arrest or tight surveillance and forbidden to leave the country.

Liu Xia who used to post regular twitter updates has not posted anything since mid October shortly after her husband's win was announced in Oslo.

Websites of news media CNN and BBC were blocked on Friday while TV reports of Liu Xiaobo were blacked out.

In a recent interview with Liu Xia, she said that Liu felt the prize shouldn't just go to him.

"He told me this prize should go to all the lost souls of May 4th, 1989 (Tiananmen massacre). He said that his heart was very heavy that the Tiananmen mothers couldn't get the prize. When he talked about them he started crying," she said.

Liu Xiaobo is still held in a prison outside of Beijing.

Liu's award has elicited a furious and wide-ranging response from Beijing, with daily tirades in state media and regular denouncements from Foreign Ministry officials.

Beijing has also pressured foreign diplomats to stay away from Friday's ceremony.

Its attempts to sabotage Friday's award ceremony in Oslo have sparked a backlash, with the governments of Serbia and the Philippines both receiving brickbats for caving in to Chinese demands.

China and 18 other countries have declined to attend, including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

At least 45 of 65 embassies in Oslo have accepted invitations.

The vilification campaign has rocketed Liu from relative obscurity to worldwide fame, in apparent contradiction to the communist leadership's desire to negate his influence with an 11-year prison sentence for sedition.

The term was handed down after he co-authored a bold appeal for human rights and multiparty democracy.

While Liu has faced the brunt of Beijing's condemnation, scores of other dissidents and independent social activists have also come under pressure.

Meanwhile, more than 50 petitioners gathered outside the United Nations compound in Beijing to protest on Friday.

The reasons for their protest were unclear, but a heavy police presence stopped the event.

The petitioners were asked to get on to a bus, and were taken away.

Police at the scene attempted to stop reporters filming.