HAVANA - The United States should stop "using force and violence" and respect sovereignty of other countries, said former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

He made the comments in a letter broadcast by Tuesday's official "Mesa Redonda" TV program.

Quoting the poem "The Pirate Song" by Spanish poet Jose de Espronceda (1808-1842), the letter criticized Washington for "using violence to loot other countries."

Castro, who turns 84 on August 13, has returned to the public scene since July 7, when he made first public appearance since he handed over power to his brother Raul in 2006. He has appeared in public five times during the last two weeks.