By Stephen Gibbs BBC News, Havana

The slogans appeared on the US mission in Havana last week

Cuban President Fidel Castro has condemned the US for broadcasting illuminated messages on the building of its mission in Havana.

The US says the messages, including quotes from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are an attempt to break Cuba's "information blockade".

President Castro said it was a gross provocation and a US attempt to break off all relations with Cuba.

He called for a mass protest on Tuesday outside the US interests section.

Exiled militant

In a three-hour live television address, President Castro launched a fierce attack on the US administration, describing it as being run by a bunch of bandits.

He said that his long-term ideological enemy was in no position to talk about human rights.

The large scrolling display appeared last week outside the building housing the US interests section, carrying messages such as "everyone has the right to free thought".

US diplomats say they are only attempting to launch a dialogue with the Cuban people.

A massive march of hundreds of thousands of people outside the building is expected on Tuesday.

That protest will also focus on the case of Luis Posada Carriles, the Cuban exile militant who is being held in the United States on immigration charges.

Mr Posada Carriles, a former CIA operative, has been accused by Cuba and Venezuela of assassination plots against President Castro and the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976 in which 73 people died.