Cuba has dismissed all criticism about the death of dissident Orlando Zapata, who died last Tuesday in a Havana prison after an 85-day hunger strike. The country's communist party newspaper said Mr Zapata was encouraged to begin his protest by foreign political opponents of the Cuban regime.

His death has led to widespread international criticism of the Caribbean island. The United States is just one of several countries to demand that Cuba free all its political prisoners.

Mr Zapata stopped eating to protest against conditions in the Havana prison after being mistreated by a guard. Following his death, five other prisoners have now begun hunger strikes. They are demanding the immediate release of all the country's dissidents.