Cuba not afraid to talk with US - Fidel Castro

Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro said the communist nation was not afraid of dialogue with the US and did not want to extend the five decades of confrontation with its powerful neighbour.

The comments came as US lawmakers visited Cuba to try to end mutual distrust and amid reports that President Barack Obama was planning to ease economic sanctions, including travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans.

"We're not afraid to talk with the US. We also don't need confrontation to exist, like some fools like to think," Mr Castro, 82, said in an article on the Cubadebate website.

Mr Castro said the 47-year-old US economic embargo on Cuba was a "total failure." He backed US Republican Senator Richard Lugar's recent proposal that the White House appoint a special envoy to review relations with Cuba.

"Those who can quietly analyse the facts, like the Indiana senator, have an indisputable argument - after nearly half a century, the US measures against Cuba are a total failure."

"We exist precisely because we believe in our ideas, and we've never been afraid to talk with our adversary. It's the only way to achieve friendship and peace between peoples," he added.

In a separate article, Mr Castro called on Latin American nations to support an end to his country's isolation at a regional summit this month that will include Mr Obama.

Mr Castro said the Summit of the Americas would be a "trial by fire" as regional nations discuss the Cuba-US confrontation.

The leader of Cuba's 1959 revolution said a draft of the text set to be discussed by leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and North America was "unacceptable" and would result in the continued isolation of the communist island.

Cuba will be blocked from attending the April 17-19 summit in Trinidad and Tobago, part of a long-standing US attempt to bar the country from regional meetings.