(10 Dec 2007)
1. Various of Cuban dissident group walking in silent protest from UNESCO offices
2. Government supporters shouting at dissidents UPSOUND (Spanish): "Ruthless! How many dollars have been given to these ruthless people? Traitors! Sell-outs!"
3. Dissidents walking arm-in-arm surrounded by shouting government supporters
4. Wide of dissidents surrounded by government supporters pushing, shoving, and shouting at them
5. Dissidents being escorted away by government supporters, supporter raises dissident woman's arm and shouts UPSOUND (Spanish) "Long live Fidel!"
6. More dissidents forced into car by government supporters, then mob turns on foreign media
7. AP cameraman is targeted in scuffles
8. Wide of government supporters shouting UPSOUND (Spanish) "Long live Fidel! Long live the revolution!"
9. Wide of news conference at Cuban Foreign Ministry
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Felipe Perez Roque, Cuban Foreign Minister:
"We are announcing today the decision taken by the Cuban government to sign in the first trimester of next year the two accords on human rights, the International Accord on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Accord on Civil and Political Rights. In the future, I can confirm that our government will invite additional special procedures of the Human Rights Commission. This is testimony that in a situation where the topic can no longer be manipulated against our country and that the US manoeuvre that was orchestrated for over 20 years was defeated, our country can now give clear proof and testimony of its will to cooperate in its commitment to defend international human rights."
11. Wide of news conference ++REPEAT OF SHOT 9++
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Felipe Perez Roque, Cuban Foreign Minister:
"Not even the threats from the US government, nor the abundant monies to pay for traitors and disloyalties, nor their media campaigns and their power over international media, nor their pressure over other governments to lend themselves for campaigns against Cuba, will make our country desist from its defence of human rights for our people."
13. Side shot of Perez Roque speaking
STORYLINE:
Cuba said on Monday it would sign an international agreement on civil and political rights while a few blocks away government supporters shoved and shouted down activists calling for improved human rights on the communist-run island.
Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque marked International Human Rights Day with word his country would "soon" sign the accords.
Meanwhile, dissidents marching at a park in the nearby Vedado neighbourhood were mobbed, insulted and forced into unmarked sedans.
There were no reports of injuries, and it was not clear whether marchers taken away had been arrested.
A few international journalists were roughed up by counter-protesters, but did not require medical attention.
Several march organisers were picked up before the event, evidently in an attempt to prevent it, according to a caller who identified himself as Carlos Bosch, communications secretary of the Independent Democrat Front.
The scene at a park was similar to International Human Rights Day protests in past years.
Only 14 protesters turned up, and they were shouted down and pushed by a pro-government group of more than 100 people, guided by men with walkie-talkies.
What was different this year was Perez Roque's announcement that Cuba would sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the first quarter of next year.
Their ranks eventually grew to 14.
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