Saturday, June 12, 1999; 5:06 p.m. EDT

HAVANA (AP) -- President Fidel Castro criticized the United States for its involvement in fighting in Kosovo, calling it just another example of American ``imperialism,'' according to a newspaper report today.

Speaking before an international audience late Friday, Castro, who opposed NATO actions in Yugoslavia from the beginning, characterized the alliance's airstrikes as ``the most cowardly war ever'' and ``a colosal battle against sovereignty,'' the Communist Party daily Granma reported.

Castro also accused the U.S. government of a century of hostile actions against the island dating back to the Spanish-American War, according to the newspaper.

Castro delivered a five-hour speech Friday evening at the closing of the International Congress of Culture and Development. Some 800 people from 42 countries attended.