HAVANA, – Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday denounced what he called a “lie” over unrest on the Caribbean island, speaking during a rally alongside Raul Castro and before thousands of supporters in Havana.

“What the world is seeing of Cuba is a lie,” Diaz-Canel said, denouncing the dissemination of “false images” on social networks where they “encourage and glorify the outrage and destruction of property”. His comments come six days after historic demonstrations against the communist government.