AFP/Havana

Cuba’s Fidel Castro slammed US President Barack Obama yesterday for treating Latin America with “scorn” on the anniversary of the US leader’s election as president.

The legendary Cuban leader who still leads the Cuban Communist Party, and whose brother Raul is currently president, lashed out at Obama over Washington’s deal with Bogota - strongly opposed throughout the region - allowing it use of Colombia’s military bases.

In an article appearing in the official Granma daily newspaper, Fidel Castro charged that US use of Colombia’s bases “threatens not only Venezuela, but all the people ... of our hemisphere.”

The agreement “violates legal, constitutional and ethical norms,” said the 83-year-old Castro, who handed over power of the communist island three-and-a half years ago to his younger brother Raul during a health crisis.

Colombia last month granted the US access to seven military bases for counternarcotics operations, a deal that angered leftist South American governments wary of a strong US presence in the region.

Colombia’s neighbours Venezuela and Ecuador have been particularly outspoken in their opposition to the deal, noting that intelligence and other operations could be carried out on their territory from Colombia.

Washington insists that the agreement is aimed at boosting cooperation in fighting guerrillas and tackling rampant drug trafficking.

But Fidel Castro charged that the US has a long history of citing its fight against drug smuggling to further “its interventionist aims.”

Until now, Cuba had been flattering to Obama personally while criticising some US policies.