Sen. Bernie Sanders', I-Vt., comments praising some of Cuba's social programs are making headlines in Havana.
Sanders gave a partial defense of Fidel Castro's dictatorial rule in Cuba, telling CBS News' "60 Minutes" it is "unfair to simply say everything is bad" with the way the late leader ran the country.
Granma, the Communist Party newspaper, displayed a story about Sanders praising "some of the social programs implemented by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro."
"Sanders, today one of the strongest candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Party to the November presidential elections, recognized Cuba's role in sending doctors worldwide," the paper wrote, according to the Miami Herald.
"As expected, his comments sparked the anger of the most extremist sector of Cuban-Americans in South Florida, who oppose any rapprochement with the Caribbean island," the paper continued.
Sanders in his interview with CBS particularly praised Cuba's literacy program.
"You know what, I think teaching people to read and write is a good thing," he told Anderson Cooper. "I have been extremely consistent and critical of all authoritarian regimes all over the world including Cuba, including Nicaragua, including Saudi Arabia, including China, including Russia. I happen to believe in democracy, not authoritarianism."
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