Cuba has moved to calm a diplomatic row with Mexico centred on a comment about Mickey Mouse attributed to President Fidel Castro.

Reports in the Mexican press had quoted President Castro as saying that Mexico was turning its back on poor Latin American nations, and that Mexicans would find it easier to say who Mickey Mouse was than to name the founder of their country.

On Friday, the Mexican foreign ministry demanded an explanation.

Now the Cuban embassy in Mexico City has said the remark made during a gathering of Latin American economic leaders in Cuba was taken out of context and completely misinterpreted.

The embassy said it was not a criticism of Mexico, but a comment on the cultural dominance of the American entertainment industry.