Berlin Demands Cuba Explain Deportation

Germany ordered Cuba to explain why a German member of parliament was thrown out of the country along with a Czech politician as they were visiting to meet Cuban dissidents. The German foreign ministry confirmed Arnold Vaatz and Czech Senator Karl Schwarzenberg had been deported from Cuba on Friday. Cuba's ambassador to Germany was called to the foreign ministry to explain his country's actions, ministry spokesman Jens Plöttner said. He said the German government was also awaiting a report from the Cuban embassy. There were no immediate details of Vaatz's deportation. Schwarzenberg had traveled to Havana on a tourist visa for a meeting organized by an umbrella organization representing dozens of Cuban dissident groups. The Cuban police took him from his hotel to the airport and put him on a plane back to Europe. Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said the incident was "proof that there is a totalitarian regime in Cuba."