The US State Department on Wednesday announced it had expelled two Cuban diplomats following a series of "incidents" requiring medical attention for diplomatic staff at the US embassy in Havana.

Some of the affected staff members were evacuated to the US while others chose to return voluntarily, said US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

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"We don't have any definitive answers about the source or the cause of what we consider to be incidents," said Nauert.

"It's caused a variety of physical symptoms in these American citizens who work for the US government. We take those incidents very seriously, and there is an investigation currently under way."

'Willingness to cooperate'

The Cuban Foreign Ministry has responded by defending itself, saying the security and well-being of foreign diplomatic staff on Cuban soil has always been a priority for the government.

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"Cuba has never, nor would ever, allow the Cuban territory to be used for any kind of action against accredited diplomats or their families," the ministry said. It added that it had launched an investigation after the May incident, saying "it reiterates its willingness to cooperate in the clarification of this situation."

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba Afternoon on the Prado Promenade At the Paseo del Prado, beside the central square, hotels line the streets. El Capitolio, the seat of the government until the Cuban Revolution in 1959, has now become a place for social gatherings, where Cubans meet each other to exchange gossip and play games.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba New Cuban fighters Children have their first lesson in Cuban boxing during a training session at Rafael Trejo Boxing School in the Habana Vieja neighborhood.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba The florist of Vedado "The Cuban government made my dream to be a nurse and help people a reality," said Mirta Gomez, a retired nurse. Before the revolution, educational opportunities in Cuba were reserved for the elite. Once Castro came into power, Gomez was able to study nursing. She spent most of her career at Havana's Central Hospital. She still helps out and trains new nurses. Her new hobby is selling flowers.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba Cuba rising Across Havana, buildings are being renovated to make way for the return of American tourism. As the government authorizes certain private business, hotels and restaurants are leading the construction boom. This building will be a group of "casas particulieres," similar to a bed and breakfast, in the Vedado neighborhood. Cubans need to apply for a license to rent rooms in their homes to foreigners.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba The reader Francisco Arrosa, 75, reads Granma, the Communist Party newspaper, as he waits for new clients. "We are socialists. What Fidel and the Revolution started, the Cuban people will keep," the car mechanic said. "We may not be wealthy, but every Cuban has access to food, education, healthcare, and housing. These things are the revolution."

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba Havana for beginners Tourists take photos from an old American car driving through Plaza Central. With the decades-long US embargo, vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s were the only option for Cubans for many years. Now, Korean, Chinese, and some European brands are entering the island's market. The old cars continue to be used as taxis or for tourism.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba The internet generation Along one of Havana's most popular boardwalks, Cubans can check their e-mail or read government-approved websites. In 2015, the Cuban government opened the first public wi-fi hotspots in 35 public locations. However, the internet is one of the most censored in the world and essentially unavailable in private homes.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba Keeping the story alive Canadians make up the largest percentage of Cuba's tourists, but with the resumption of flights and cruise ships from the US, the number of US visitors is expected to surge this year.

After Castro: A snapshot from Cuba Fishermen of Malacon As an island nation, fishing plays an important role in Cuban culture, including in its cuisine. Generation after generation have made their livelihood on the practice and fish is one of Cuba's biggest exports. US tourism companies already have their eyes on the country's pristine coastal waters. Author: Mauro Pimentel, Kait Bolongaro



Deteriorating relations

Relations between Washington and Havana have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump assumed the presidency in January.

The Trump administration announced in June new restrictions on American travel to the island nation along with a clampdown on US business dealings, but stopped short of cutting diplomatic relations restored under former President Barack Obama.

In 1960, Washington cut ties with Cuba after President Raul Castro's brother Fidel led an armed insurgency against the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista that led to his ouster.

Under Obama, Washington re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba following more than half a century of hostilities.

ls/cmk (AFP, Reuters, AP)