Cuba 145;gears up146; for US attack

Cubans interviewed on state-run media on Friday said they would fight to the death against any invaders from the north, while the Communist Party daily Granma said, 8216;8216;We Cubans are prepared for the defence8217;8217; of the island.

White House press secretary Tony Snow rejected as 8216;8216;absurd8217;8217; any suggestion that the United States would attack the island. 8216;8216;The US has absolutely no designs on invading Cuba,8217;8217; Snow said in Crawford, Texas, where President Bush was vacationing at his ranch. 8216;8216;Cubans are going to have to chart their destiny. It8217;s the one thing that they8217;ve been deprived during the dictatorship of Fidel Castro.8217;8217;

Condoleezza Rice also made a statement on Friday, imploring Cubans not to flee to Florida. Her message was being transmitted over US government radio and television stations that are beamed to the islands and also on CNN and other major media.

No new details were provided on Castro8217;s condition following his surgery.