Cuban leaders step up police patrols after rare protests

Police stand guard near the National Capitol building in Havana, Cuba, a day after protests against food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis (Ismael Francisco/AP)

Cuban police are out in force on the country’s streets as the president accuses Cuban Americans of using social media to spur a rare outpouring of protests over high prices and food shortages.

The demonstrations in several cities and towns were some of the biggest displays of anti-government sentiment seen in years in tightly controlled Cuba, which is facing a surge of coronavirus cases as it struggles with its worst economic crisis in decades as a consequence of US sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.