The former United States president Jimmy Carter on a visit to Cuba has strongly criticised the American policy towards the island. Mr Carter said the decades-long US trade embargo and travel ban damaged the Cuban people and hindered rather than helped reform. He also urged the Cuban government to make move towards democracy and allow complete freedom of speech. During his three-day visit Jimmy Carter held talks with the Cuban leader Raul Castro, as well as leading dissidents. He also met the jailed US contractor Alan Gross, but did not secure his release.