Defence: Adams

The Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, has defended his decision to visit Cuba and meet with Fidel Castro.

Adams said the four-day trip, which had been delayed, was a long-standing engagement and refused to back down following US criticism.

The MP for West Belfast said he had fully expected a media backlash but said he hoped US supporters would "understand and accept" his reasons for going ahead.

His rebuttal came amid strong criticism from America. The Republican congressman Peter King last week called Adams' decision a "mistake".

During his trip Adams will unveil a memorial to the IRA and INLA hunger strikers who died in 1981.

He will also publicly thank President Castro for his support of the hunger strike.

On his itinerary are a visit the Juan Marquez Hospital and the Latin American School of Medical Sciences.

He will also lay a wreath to the 19th century Cuban rebel Jose Marti and meet key government officials before holding talks with President Castro.

"This is the 20th anniversary of the hunger strike and there has been a year of commemoration, debate and discussion in Ireland and around the world. Internationally, memorials were unveiled by me in South Africa and by Martin McGuinness in Australia," said Adams.

"We will be unveiling a memorial to the hunger strikers in Havana which will be a fitting end to that commemorative year. At the time of the hunger strikes, President Castro spoke out in support of the Irish struggle and commended the courage of the men in the H-Blocks and the women in Armagh Jail."