The Associated Press
Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999; 6:11 a.m. EDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –– Nicaragua's president Arnoldo Aleman has predicted that Fidel Castro's regime will fall soon and reasserted his country's support to help restore democracy in Cuba.

Aleman was the main speaker Friday in a fund raiser of the Puerto Rican chapter of the National Cuban-American Foundation.

"In any forum, international, wherever the liberty of Cuba has to be discussed, you will have the podium and the unconditional support of the people and the government of Nicaragua, to denounce the (crimes) and murders committed by the dictator Fidel Castro," said Aleman.

He urged Cuban exiles to maintain their faith, and predicted that "the last dictatorship in America" will fall soon.

Aleman has close ties with the community of Cuban exiles in Miami.