US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday dismissed a referendum in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cuba-votes-in-referendum-on-new-constitution-199419">Cuba on a new constitution</a> that affirmed the central role of socialism, calling it stage-managed "political theatre" rather than a democratic vote.

"No one should be fooled by this exercise, which achieves little beyond perpetuating the pretext for (the) regime's one-party dictatorship," Pompeo said in a statement.

"The entire process has been marked by carefully managed political theatre and repression of public debate," he said.

Pompeo denounced Cuba for detentions of protesters ahead of the vote, including what he said was confiscation of phones.

"We strongly condemn these attempts to silence peaceful protests, which show that Cuba's leaders fear the Cuban people," he said.

Cuba said that more than 86 per cent of voters in Sunday's referendum approved a constitutional reform that cements the role of socialism on the island.&nbsp;

In a rarity, Cubans had the option to vote no and the banned opposition -- which generally calls for abstention -- pushed for a rejection.

The referendum comes as the United States ramps up pressure on the communist island, with Pompeo studying whether to allow Cuban exiles to sue in US courts over confiscated property.

Former President Barack Obama had moved to reconcile with Cuba, saying that a half-century of efforts to oust Fidel Castro and his successors had failed and isolated the United States.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday dismissed a referendum in Cuba on a new constitution that affirmed the central role of socialism, calling it stage-managed "political theatre" rather than a democratic vote.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday dismissed a referendum in Cuba on a new constitution that affirmed the central role of socialism, calling it stage-managed "political theatre" rather than a democratic vote. "No one should be fooled by this exercise, which achieves little beyond perpetuating the pretext for (the) regime's one-party dictatorship," Pompeo said in a statement. "The entire process has been marked by carefully managed political theatre and repression of public debate," he said. Pompeo denounced Cuba for detentions of protesters ahead of the vote, including what he said was confiscation of phones. "We strongly condemn these attempts to silence peaceful protests, which show that Cuba's leaders fear the Cuban people," he said. Cuba said that more than 86 per cent of voters in Sunday's referendum approved a constitutional reform that cements the role of socialism on the island. In a rarity, Cubans had the option to vote no and the banned opposition -- which generally calls for abstention -- pushed for a rejection. The referendum comes as the United States ramps up pressure on the communist island, with Pompeo studying whether to allow Cuban exiles to sue in US courts over confiscated property. Former President Barack Obama had moved to reconcile with Cuba, saying that a half-century of efforts to oust Fidel Castro and his successors had failed and isolated the United States.

'No one should be fooled' by Cuba constitution vote: US Secretary Pompeo

Cuba will leave out of its new constitution changes that would have paved the way for legal same-sex marriage, despite majority support in local assemblies, a government official said Tuesday.&nbsp;

It was a surprising twist given public popular support has shown nationwide -- and earlier remarks from lawmakers in the Americas' only one-party Communist regime.

The measure would have changed the definition of parties in marriage from man and wife to "between two people."

But "the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cubans-to-join-public-debate-on-new-constitution-recognizing-private-enterprise-158996">draft constitution </a>will not define which parties enter into a marriage... So that is now out of constitutional reform discussions overall," Council of State secretary and drafting coordinator Homero Acosta was quoted as saying by state media.

The full draft constitution was put before neighbourhood and workplace assemblies for debate between August and November. The marriage issue was the one that drew the greatest attention.

"Article 68 was the one most discussed by the people in the popular consultation, in 66 per cent of the meetings (of citizen debate). Of the 192,408 opinions, 158,376 propose replacing the measure now in force with the one proposed," Cuba's National Assembly said on Twitter.&nbsp;

In light of that, "the (text-drafting) Committee proposes deferring the definition of marriage to the draft constitution, as a way to respect all opinions."

Cuba will leave out of its new constitution changes that would have paved the way for legal same-sex marriage, despite majority support in local assemblies, a government official said Tuesday.

Cuba will leave out of its new constitution changes that would have paved the way for legal same-sex marriage, despite majority support in local assemblies, a government official said Tuesday. It was a surprising twist given public popular support has shown nationwide -- and earlier remarks from lawmakers in the Americas' only one-party Communist regime. The measure would have changed the definition of parties in marriage from man and wife to "between two people." But "the draft constitution will not define which parties enter into a marriage... So that is now out of constitutional reform discussions overall," Council of State secretary and drafting coordinator Homero Acosta was quoted as saying by state media. The full draft constitution was put before neighbourhood and workplace assemblies for debate between August and November. The marriage issue was the one that drew the greatest attention. "Article 68 was the one most discussed by the people in the popular consultation, in 66 per cent of the meetings (of citizen debate). Of the 192,408 opinions, 158,376 propose replacing the measure now in force with the one proposed," Cuba's National Assembly said on Twitter. In light of that, "the (text-drafting) Committee proposes deferring the definition of marriage to the draft constitution, as a way to respect all opinions."

Cuba eliminates gay marriage from new constitution

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'No one should be fooled' by Cuba constitution vote: US Secretary Pompeo

Cuba eliminates gay marriage from new constitution