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Cuba (Castro) calls its Latin neighbors 'Judases' for their plans to vote on human rights measure *** HAVANA - Cuba sent a chill across Latin America by characterizing regional neighbors as "Judases" for their plan to support an annual U.N. vote calling for Cuba to examine its human rights record. A majority of Latin American nations have said they plan to join the vote expected Friday before the U.N. Human Relations Commission in Geneva, asking Cuba's communist government to grant its citizens individual liberties such as freedom of speech, the press, association, assembly.

The administration of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is among few in the hemisphere expected to side with Cuba and vote against the measure. Cuba backed Chavez's return to power on Sunday after a two-day military coup. "The government of the United States - using its preferred weapons of pressure and blackmail and with the humiliating servility of some governments in the region - seeks tomorrow in Geneva to execute a new maneuver against Cuba," the Communist Party daily Granma said Thursday.***

Castro asked embassies in Venezuela to stop Chavez from immolating himself, Bolivarian cadre and Honor Guard*** HAVANA - During the confused first hours of last week's coup in Venezuela, Cuba asked diplomats from Spain and 21 other countries to help prevent President Hugo Chavez and his supporters from sacrificing themselves, Fidel Castro said in a statement Friday.

Castro said in the note appearing in the Juventud Rebelde newspaper that his foreign ministry contacted representatives of foreign missions in Cuba and Venezuela early April 12 to "prevent Chavez from immolating himself in the Miraflores Palace, as he was proposing, with the 300 Bolivarian cadre (supporters) and the Honor Guard accompanying him."

Chavez considers Castro a friend and at one point during the crisis did talk with him on the telephone, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque confirmed last week. He refused to give details. Castro's statements appeared to be in response to news reports from Spain, citing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar about contacts with Cuba during the Venezuelan crisis.***