Cuba challenges Latin America to make strides on health, education

Cuba's President Raul Castro addresses the audience during the the opening ceremony of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit in Havana January 28, 2014. REUTERS/Adalberto Roque/Pool

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Raul Castro challenged Latin American and Caribbean leaders on Tuesday to improve health care and education, telling a regional summit they have the natural resources to eradicate poverty but may lack the political will.

The speech also listed a series of Latin American grievances that directly or indirectly involve the United States, attempting to unify the 33 countries at the summit against their neighbour to the north, which was not invited.