Cuban Migrants Stranded By Diplomatic Spat

There is growing anger and desperation among Cuban migrants who have become stranded in Costa Rica because of a diplomatic stand-off.

The group of about 3,000 people is trying to reach the United States, which has a Cold War-era policy of accepting Cubans who set foot on US soil.

But they have been blocked from travelling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua because of fraying tensions between the two countries.

During a recent regional summit, Nicaragua rejected Costa Rica's suggestion of a "humanitarian corridor" for the migrants to pass through and insisted that its border would remain closed.

Costa Rica's Foreign Minister has accused Nicaragua of blocking a reasonable policy suggestion aimed at resolving the crisis.

"It's unacceptable to kid around with people's suffering," Manuel Gonzalez said.

Thousands of migrants are living in makeshift camps along the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

One migrant said: "There is total desperation among us because we don't know anything. We haven't the least idea how long we have to stay here."

A growing number of Cubans have tried to make the journey to the US since ties between the two countries began to thaw in recent months.

Some fear Washington could soon end the policy of giving preferential treatment to Cuban migrants.