Cubans make 100 million cigars

The authorities in Cuba say the tobacco industry has achieved its aim of producing 100 million cigars for export this year.

Officials say only 70 million cigars were produced last year, and that they will try to boost production to a 160 million in 1998.

State-run news organisations said the president, Fidel Castro, congratulated tobacco workers in a letter read at a special ceremony in the capital.

The tobacco industry is one of the most important sources of foreign currency for Cuba, which has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its cigars.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service