HAVANA - (AP) -- America's chief diplomat in Cuba issued a statement Friday reiterating that no U.S. military action is planned against Cuba and insisting the United States supports a peaceful transition to democracy on the island.

  The statement by James Cason, chief of U.S. Interests Section, was distributed to international journalists in Cuba a week after President Fidel Castro challenged President Bush to be clear about how the United States plans to realize a transition to democracy in Cuba.

  For nearly a year, Castro and other Cuban officials have publicly expressed concerns that the U.S. military could attack the island.

  In a public speech, Castro wondered aloud -- again -- if it involved a plan to kill him. Last month, Castro directly accused Bush of plotting with Cuban exiles in Miami to
  assassinate him.

  U.S. officials talk about a transition, ''but how would they make this transition?'' Castro asked in his Feb. 15 speech, suggesting that ``the only way is to proceed with an illegal assassination using the scores of techniques they have available.''

  ''President Bush has said repeatedly that U.S. policy toward Cuba is a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy, a transition that will come from Cubans themselves,'' read Cason's statement.

  ''There is no reason for the U.S. to attack Cuba, and the U.S. Government has no intention of doing so,'' the statement said.