US abstains in UN vote against Cuba embargo

The United States on Wednesday abstained for the first time in 25 years from a vote at the United Nations calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba.

The UN General Assembly adopted the annual resolution by an overwhelming 191 votes in favour with only the United States and Israel abstaining in the 193-nation forum.

According to AFP news agency, Washington's abstention was in line with calls from US President Barack Obama for the opposition-controlled Congress to lift the decades-old embargo as part of a historic normalisation of relations.

"The United States has always voted against this resolution. Today the United States will abstain," US Ambassador Samantha Power told the assembly, drawing loud applause.

"After 55-plus years of pursuing the path of isolation, we are choosing to take the path of engagement."

The United States restored diplomatic ties with Cuba in July 2015 and a month later re-opened its embassy in Havana. Obama made a landmark visit to the communist-ruled island in March.

But restoring full trade and financial ties with Cuba would require legislative action by Congress, where the Republican majority has reportedly said human rights concerns must first be addressed.

Economic damage suffered by Cuba from the US embargo between April 2015 and March 2016 is estimated at more than $4.68 billion, according to Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez. Over the past six decades, the damage from the policy amounts to $753.688 billion, he added.