FarsNews Agency Cuban President: Some Protesters Sponsored by US

(FNA)- Some of those who participate in massive protests that have engulfed Cuba are paid by the United States to provoke unrest, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated on Monday.

Diaz-Canel earlier called for his supporters to take to the streets after accusing the US and enemies of the Cuban Revolution of trying to destabilise the Caribbean nation following large-scale demonstrations, RIA Novosti reported.

"There is a group of people ... hired by the US government, paid indirectly through US government agencies to organize this kind of demonstrations," he told his supporters in an address.

The Sunday protest was the biggest anti-government protest in recent years in Cuba. Thousands of people gathered to express dissatisfaction with what they believe are lack of freedom and degrading economic situation in the country. Some demonstrators demanded that free elections be held, local media reported.

Protests took place in eight cities including the capital of Havana. Counter-marches of government and communist supporters took place in five cities following the call from the president to fight back. The president himself personally joined the marches in the San Antonio de los Banos municipality of Havana.

In one of the cities, protesters and counter-demonstrators clashed and began to throw stones at one another.

While many of the marches seemed mostly peaceful, demonstrators were reportedly flipping cars and throwing rocks at police in Havana and elsewhere. Videos posted on social media showed people vandalizing and looting shops, according to RT.