Cuba will never rejoin OAS over Venezuela row, says Castro

Cuban President Raul Castro says the country will not return to the Organization of American States (OAS) in a show of solidarity with Venezuela.

Raul Castro offered "firm solidarity" with Venezuela over its dispute with the OAS

OAS Secretary General Luis Almargo has called for sanctions against Venezuela. At a summit of Caribbean countries in Havana, Mr Castro called the OAS "an instrument of imperialist domination".

Leopoldo Lopez was sentenced to a long prison term last year

Meanwhile, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has met jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

It was Leopoldo Lopez's first visit from anyone other than family members or lawyers since the 45-year-old was sentenced to 14 years in prison last year after being found guilty of inciting violence.


His supporters insist he is innocent and say he was jailed on trumped-up, politically-motivated charges. The meeting at Ramo Verde military prison outside Caracas lasted about 90 minutes, according to Adriana Lopez, the opposition leader's sister.

Mr Zapatero is trying to negotiate between the opposition and the government in Venezeula's worsening political crisis.