US Cuba: Allegations of sonic attacks 'totally false' Published duration 29 October 2017

image copyright Reuters image caption The US says nearly two dozen staff were affected by the alleged attacks

Cuba says there have been no sonic attacks against US embassy staff in its capital, Havana, and that the claims are a "political manipulation" aimed at damaging bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez dismissed allegations of any kind of attack as "totally false".

The US said nearly two dozen personnel had health problems after the alleged attacks and cut its staff as a result.

Reports suggest sonic attacks were to blame, but nothing has been proven.

Washington has not blamed Havana for the alleged attacks, and the Cuban government has previously denied targeting embassy staff.

The US expelled 15 Cuban diplomats, saying that Havana had failed to protect its employees, but Cuba said the move was "unjustified".

The US government also suspended visa processing in Cuba indefinitely.

image copyright AFP image caption Mr Rodriguez dismissed as false "any type of attack"

Speaking in Washington at a meeting of Cubans living in the US, Mr Rodriguez said the allegations have caused a "serious deterioration in the relationship between both governments and both countries".

"It's unacceptable and immoral, from the point of view of the Cuban government, for people to be harmed by a difference between governments," he added.

The reported health problems ranged from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.

Mystery in Havana

Late 2016: US embassy staff and at least one Canadian began to notice symptoms

May 2017: US expels two Cuban diplomats for failing to protect its diplomats

August: US says 16 employees have been treated but attacks seem to have stopped. A Canadian diplomat in Havana is treated for hearing loss.

Early September: US says attacks are continuing and 19 staff members have now been hurt

29 September: Washington pulls out diplomatic staff, warns US citizens not to visit and says 21 embassy employees now injured