By Dave Sherwood HAVANA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives outside the capital.

As tensions between the US and Cuba rise to the highest levels since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the mood was grim at a recent staff meeting at the US Embassy in Havana.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez argued tougher pressure is necessary to weaken the communist regime and force a democratic transition.

This came days after he threatened Cuba’s reeling economy with a virtual oil blockade. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.