Travel ban to Cuba may be lifted soon

HAVANA - A U.S. congressman who sponsored an amendment to end the ban on travel to Cuba said yesterday he believes President Bush won't fight the measure.

At the end of a three-day visit to the island, Rep. Jeff Flake said he believes his amendment prohibiting the U.S. Treasury Department from spending money on enforcing the travel ban has growing support, especially after the international custody battle over Elian Gonzalez.

"I think a lot of people saw that the Cuban-American community was just over the top," the Arizona Republican said.

Flake has predicted that Americans will be able to freely travel to Cuba by year's end. His amendment to a Treasury spending bill has passed the House of Representatives, and a similar measure is planned in the Senate.

Bush might fight the measure if it were an independent bill, Flake said, but it will be difficult to veto an entire spending bill. Bush has said he wants to maintain current U.S. policy toward Cuba.