Two of the most senior US politicians to visit Cuba in recent years have said they will push for a move to ease economic sanctions and allow the communist-ruled island to buy US food and medicines.

Senator Tom Daschle, the leader of the Democrats in the US Senate, said on returning to Washington that he would work to lift the embargo on shipments of food and medicine.

Fidel Castro has survived the 37-year embargo

The Senate has already passed by a significant majority an amendment to do this. The measure now has to go to the House of Representatives.

If passed, it would be the most significant easing of the embargo in years.

Senator Daschle said it served neither the interests of the US nor Cuba to continue sanctions on food and medicines.

He said the measure only hurt US family farmers and the citizens of Cuba.

In part, this shift in Washington is being fuelled by recognition that after 37 years the embargo has spectacularly failed to topple Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

But it also reflects the considerable lobbying power of US agricultural and pharmaceutical companies, who would like to get into a growing Cuban market.

Human rights concerns

During a seven-hour meeting with Fidel Castro at the weekend, the senators also urged greater respect for human rights on the island and they called on the Cuban Government to change its labour codes.

The senators said if this were done, they would support allowing US companies to trade with foreign investors in Cuba, which would represent a much more extensive easing of the embargo.

However, no-one is yet talking of allowing Cuba to sell its goods in the United States.