HAVANA: A Cuban crackdown on dissident activists caused a new rift Wednesday with the United States, the first diplomatic scuffle since this month's historic announcement of a renewal in ties.

Authorities arrested 51 dissidents Tuesday to stop them from attending an open mic session convened for Cubans to speak out about their future, said Elizardo Sanchez, the head of the officially banned Cuban Human Rights and National Reconciliation Committee.

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