Castro hits out at Bush over Cuban sex tourism claims

FIDEL CASTRO yesterday rejected charges by US President George Bush that he promotes sex tourism in Cuba, then went on the offensive to dredge up old reports about his enemy's past drinking habits.

The Cuban leader vigorously denied Mr Bush's recent allegations, saying that what the White House believes is "that which the president makes up in his head, whether it corresponds to reality or not".

"There are many in the world who know very little about the Cuban revolution, and could fall prey to the lies diffused by the United States," the Cuban president said at the island's annual Revolution Day celebration in the central city of Santa Clara.