Cuban Diplomat in Ottawa Protests Expulsion by U.S.

Cuban envoy Jose Imperatori is in Ottawa protesting against the "major slander" by the U.S. authorities, which expelled him on spy charges Saturday night.

The 46-year-old former vice-consul at Cuba's Interests Section was taken into custody by the U.S. authorities and flown to Montreal before arriving at the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa.

"I have become the victim of a major slander," he said in a statement, reiterating that "the accusation brought against me is absolutely false."

Imperatori said he wants to return to the United States to face his accusers and will remain on a hunger strike until he is allowed to do so.

"His intention is to continue until he can go back to the United States to clear his name," according to a statement by the Cuban Embassy.

The Cuban government has accused the U.S. authorities of escalating the dispute over the fate of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez to the expulsion of its diplomat and involving a third country by flying Imperatori to Montreal.

Ottawa agrees to "facilitate" both sides by allowing Imperatori to enter Canada to travel home, since there are no flights betweenthe U.S. and Cuba.

The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday that they expected Imperatori to leave for Havana "shortly" in abidance by the conditions of his entry.

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