Cubans swap dollars for pesos

Cubans jammed banks and exchange kiosks to swap their dollars for local pesos yesterday as the Communist Government, retaliating for tightened sanctions, pulled the US currency from general circulation.

It was the first day Cubans were able to exchange dollars for convertible Cuban pesos, which are pegged on a par with the dollar but worthless outside Cuba.

"People will have to change their dollars to live off, but they would rather keep their money in dollars," dissident journalist Oscar Mario Gonzalez said outside an exchange booth.