Reuters
 

HAVANA, April 6 -- Cuba expressed solidarity today with a Canadian convicted in the United States this week of violating
Washington's trade embargo by selling water-purification chemicals to Cuba.

Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, addressing a crowd of 140,000 Cubans that included President Fidel Castro, criticized
the verdict reached Wednesday by a jury in federal court in Philadelphia against James Sabzali, 42.

"They have found him guilty in the United States, put him on trial, for selling Cuba resins to purify the water which goes to our
schools and homes," Perez said. He added sarcastically: "I don't know what sort of dangerous or strategic material this is. I
don't know if you can maybe make a nuclear missile from it."

The case is likely to widen the dispute between Washington and Ottawa over ties with Cuba. Canada opposes the embargo
and is one of Cuba's major trading partners. Sabzali was convicted of violating the U.S. Trading With the Enemy Act.

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