UNITED NATIONS -- (AP) -- Despite a recent effort to ease the U.S. embargo on
 Cuba, the General Assembly resoundingly criticized the the United States for
 maintaining sanctions on the island for nearly four decades and urged
 Washington to lift them as soon as possible.

 The nonbinding, Cuban-drafted resolution passed with its widest margin ever --
 167 in favor -- slightly more than it has for the past eight years that Cuba has
 brought the initiative to the United Nations. Only three voted against it. Four
 abstained.

 The resolution, introduced by Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, was nearly
 identical to ones approved in years past, even though U.S. legislation approved
 last month would allow sales of American food and medicine to the communist
 island for the first time in nearly 40 years.

 But the law bars the federal government or U.S. banks from financing the
 shipments, meaning Cuba would have to pay cash or get credit from a third
 country.

 Cuban officials say this year's resolution deliberately omitted any reference to the
 new U.S. law since Havana believes the legislation has toughened, not eased the
 embargo.

 ``It is fitting to tell the naked truth,'' Perez Roque told the assembly before the
 vote. ``The alleged authorization for companies to sell food and medicines to Cuba
 is established under such restrictions and obstacles that render those activities
 practically impossible.''

 Ambassadors from sympathetic countries, such as China, Myanmar, Vietnam
 and Ghana, echoed his view.

 Cuba insists on a total lifting of the sanctions imposed in 1962 in an attempt to
 squeeze President Fidel Castro's government -- a call at the core of the
 resolution.

 The resolution also expresses concern at sanctions that affect third countries -- a
 reference to the 1996 Helms-Burton act, which was designed to discourage
 foreign investment in Cuba by punishing foreign companies investing in property
 confiscated from Americans.

 The 189-member assembly ``once again urges states that have and continue to
 apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate
 them as soon as possible,'' the resolution says.

 Votes on similar resolutions have overwhelmingly favored Cuba in past. In 1999, it
 was 155 yes votes, two no votes and eight abstentions. In 1998, 157 countries
 voted in favor, two voted against and 12 abstained. In 1997, there were 143 yes
 votes, three no votes and 17 abstentions.

 ``This appeal to the international community, based on reason, law and ethics,
 should not continue to be ignored,'' Mexico's U.N. ambassador Manuel Tello told
 the assembly. He added that despite the U.S. embargo, ``Mexico will continue to
 foster a high degree of cooperation -- and economic and commercial exchanges --
 with Cuba.''