SANTA CLARA, Cuba, July 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Cuban leader Fidel Castro Monday denounced US President George W. Bush's charges that the Cuban government encourages sex tourism and is involved in human trafficking.

    Addressing the nation on the 51st anniversary of the Cuban revolution, Castro said the accusations were aimed at justifying steps taken by the Bush administration last month to undermine Cuba's economy and to restrict visits and cash remittances from Cubans in the United States.

    Since the victory of the Cuban revolution, 90 percent of the Cubans leaving the country have gone to the United States legally and the Cuban government never obstructed them. But the US government has instigated illegal immigration and regards the immigrants as refugees, he said.

    Before Cuba's revolution, about 100,000 women were involved in prostitution because of poverty, discrimination and unemployment, but since 1959, the Cuban government has banned all prostitution and educated and given jobs to women, the Cuban leader stressed.

    On May 6, Bush announced visit and remittance restrictions on Cuban Americans while increasing funds to support anti-Cuban activities to fulfill his goal of overthrowing the Cuban government.

    Cubans held mass rallies on May 14 and June 21 respectively, protesting the US government's charges after it issued a report accusing the Cuban government of promoting sex tourism and human trafficking. Enditem