ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Expelled Cuban diplomat Jose Imperatori, according to Canadian sources, is allowed to remain in Canada for at least one more day. In the past 24 hours, Imperatori has made a journey from his home in Bethesda, Maryland, through Montreal, Canada, to Ottawa. CNN national correspondent Martin Savidge is in Havana with the latest.</s>MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Cuba is accusing the United States of dragging Canada into the diplomatic row over former Cuban diplomat Jose Imperatori. Imperatori was removed from his Washington, D.C., apartment last night by FBI agents. He was placed on a plane that flew him to Montreal, Canada. Imperatori has now made his way to the Canadian capital of Ottawa, where it is said that he plans to stay for at least some time longer. There was a statement that was read on Cuban television this afternoon. In it, Cuba condemned the U.S. involvement of Canada, saying, quote, "What the imperialists have done is to throw the hot potato to its neighbor to the north." The statement also said that Cube felt bitterness and indignation for what it called "a crude maneuver." Imperatori has categorically denied that either he or the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C., has ever been involved in any espionage against the United States. He says his hunger strike continues, and he hopes to remain in Canada until he can clear his name. Cuba believes all of this is tied into the case of Elian Gonzalez, that the accusations are a smoke screen to try and to lay the boy's return to the United States. The boy is at the center of an international and bitter custody battle between families here in Cuba and the U.S. Martin Savidge, CNN, Havana.
Expelled Cuban Diplomat Plans to Stay in Canada Indefinitely