Pro- and anti-Cuba demonstrations face-off against each other in Washington

Описание: (17 May 2003)
1. Wide shot of Cuban Interest section and pro-Castro demonstrators standing by building's entrance
2. Mid shot of pro-Castro demonstrators holding signs calling for an end to the US blockade
3. Mid shot of anti-Castro demonstrators holding sign saying "Terrorism"
4. Mid shot of man holding picture and banner calling for freedom to political prisoners in Cuba
5. Traveling through pro-Castro demonstrators outside Cuban interest section
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Boutureira, pro-Cuba demonstrator:
"We have come out in anticipation of what was planned to be an anti-Cuba demonstration. We are here trying to promote the respect for the sovereignty of Cuba as a nation in anticipation to what we perceived to be an increase in the rhetoric against Cuba in terms of accusing Cuba of harbouring biological weapons, accusing Cuba of harbouring terrorists, in other words, we are hearing the same rhetoric that led up to the invasion of Iraq and we are very concerned that the sovereignty of Cuba is in jeopardy."
7. Close up of Cuban Interest Section and Embassy of Switzerland sign
8. Tilt from Interest section building to pro-Castro demonstrators
9. Mid shot of woman holding Cuban flag
10. Men holding sign saying "Lift the Travel Ban"
11.SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Cervantes, anti-Castro demonstrator:
"At the present moment Fidel Castro is a terrorist as was described by the acts that he is committing. He is supporting terrorist organisations, he is training terrorists in Cuba and we believe that he has weapons of mass destruction in Cuba. It hasn't been proven yet but we are very suspicious of the anthrax attacks in Washington and Castro's interests in the postal service and how it operates in Cuba, if that is the case Castro should learn from the lesson of Saddam Hussein and he should consider very carefully what he does with the Cuban people."
12. Mid shot of anti-Castro demonstrators
13. Mid shot of pro-Castro demonstrators
14. Pan from anti-Castro demonstrators to Interest Section building

STORYLINE:
Protesters from an anti-Castro group, the "Coalition for Cuban Freedom," held a demonstration in Washington on Saturday to call for democracy in Cuba and alleged that Fidel Castro is supporting terrorist organisations.

A second group of protesters, who object to the U.S. government's policies towards Cuba decided to stage a counter-demonstration, and turned up at the same location, outside the Cuban Interest Section offices, which are located inside the grounds of the Swiss embassy.

The pro-Cuba protesters were calling for the lifting of the travel band to the Caribbean island.

Earlier this year, George W. Bush's administration dropped a Clinton-era "people-to-people" policy aimed at increasing contacts between ordinary Americans and Cubans.

Under the policy, the US government granted licenses to academics, athletes, scientists and others to travel to Cuba for exchange programmes.

One of the protesters calling for Cuban leader Fidel Castro's removal, accused him of training terrorists and alleged that he may have been involved in the anthrax attacks that occurred in the US during 2001.

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