People Castro hates

There has never been any love lost between Fidel Castro and his henchmen on the one hand and Jose Maria Aznar on the other.

The reason? The former Spanish prime minister was never afraid of tackling the Cuban dictator head on when and as required, especially over human rights issues and the need for democratic change on the island.

Mr Aznar is no longer in office but he has continued to comment on the inevitability of change in Cuba, most recently during a visit to Chile.

And in Havana, they hate him for it. Just like they hate Vaclav Havel. And the president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias.

So, in today’s edition of Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, the regime goes for Mr Aznar's jugular. Again.

An article signed by Patricio Montesinos but obviously commissioned and approved at the highest levels, the former Spanish leader is variously described as “a political corpse”, a “colonialist”, an “interventionist” and even a “moribund parrot” who has been relegated to the “dustbin of history”. And an American puppet, of course.

Can’t wait to hear Mr Aznar’s response. It should be fun.