Cuba bars UN rapporteur

Cuba has reportedly told the UN special rapporteur on torture that he cannot visit the island, despite an invitation issued last year.



The UN investigator Manfred Novak expressed deep disappointment after being told that he could not visit before his mandate ends in October.



Novak’s visit would have been the first by a UN expert to specifically monitor torture and cruel treatment in Cuba.



Cuban officials have said the country does not need an objective assessment of its situation.