Explosion in Havana blamed on firecracker

The official Cuban news agency has said Saturday's small explosion outside a Church in Havana was caused by a firecracker.

The agency Prensa Latina said a firecracker was accidentally set off by a Mexican tourist and his Cuban friend, who later cooperated with the authorities to clarify the matter.

The government blamed foreign media for reporting the incident as a bomb explosion, in which they implied a possible political or religious motive, ahead of next month's visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul 2nd.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service