Cuba's parliament, the National Assembly of the Popular Power, adopted on Thursday a message of solidarity with the US people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
One minute of silence was kept for victims of the hurricane before the text was presented by parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcon at the start of a new parliament session.
The Cuban people have closely followed news related to the consequences of hurricane Katrina, especially in the worst-hit states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the document said.
The hurricane has caused many deaths and great suffering, especially among the African-American population, Latin workers and poor people. "This news causes pain and sadness among Cubans," it said.
Katrina, one of the most severe hurricanes in US history, has killed hundreds of people and affected 5 million more, and caused an estimated US$25 billion in economic losses. At least 198 people have been confirmed killed by the hurricane, according to the Cable News Network (CNN) of the United States.