Cuba says US withdrawal of embassy staff will affect ties

CUBA: Cuba on Friday slammed as "hasty" a US decision to withdraw more than half of its embassy staff from Havana due to mysterious "attacks," and warned the move would affect ties.

"We consider the decision announced by the US government today, through the State Department, to be hasty, and it will affect bilateral relations," said the head of North American affairs at Cuba's foreign ministry, Josefina Vidal, quoted on state television.

But she added: "Cuba wishes to pursue active cooperation between the authorities of the two countries in order to resolve this case."

"The Cuban government has no responsibility in this case and strictly respects its obligations under the Vienna Convention" regarding the protection of diplomats as well as their families, she said.

The attacks of an unknown nature have targeted at least 21 US embassy staff in Havana over the past few months.

Those affected have exhibited physical symptoms including hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping.