HAVANA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Opponents and supporters of Cuba's Communist government traded insults, slogans and blows on Friday before the start of a trial of a dissident Cuban journalist accused of ``insulting'' a senior Foreign Ministry official.
At least three people, believed to be sympathisers of the dissident, Mario Viera, were hustled into police cars while scuffles and running fights broke out for about half an hour outside the courtroom building in downtown Havana.
Witnesses said the trouble began as about 100 people milled around Havana's Provincial People's Court, and sporadic shouting quickly escalated into fights and shoving matches.
In the scuffles, the crowd fought over a Cuban flag, with government supporters and opponents ripping it out of each other's arms to proclaim their patriotism. A cameraman for Cable News Network (CNN), one of various foreign media present, was jostled and pushed by a government supporter.
``We're not turning our back on our country. We have rights, and we have the right to defend them,'' shouted one of Viera's supporters. Government supporters replied with chants of ``Long live the revolution!'' and ``Down with the worms!''
Viera, who works for the illegal, nongovernmental Cuba Verdad (Cuba Truth) news agency, is accused of having insulted the official because an article he wrote accused the official of hypocrisy in calling for an independent international criminal court.
09:43 11-27-98
Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited