UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Cuba's U.N. envoy on Thursday dismissed as "unacceptable and slanderous'' U.S. Senator Jesse Helms' criticism of his country in a speech to Security Council members.

Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez shouted his remarks across the council chamber as members were leaving after listening to Helms, the staunchly conservative chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In a speech calling for a new beginning in U.N.-U.S. relations but warning the world body not to try to dictate U.S. foreign or domestic policy, Helms said governments lose their legitimacy when they rule without the consent of the governed.

``Neither can Fidel Castro claim that it is his sovereign right to oppress his people,'' Helms said, adding that this also applied to Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

After shouting towards Helms that his ``attack against Cuba is unacceptable and slanderous,'' Rodriguez told reporters outside the council chamber that he had asked three times to be allowed to speak but had been refused.

Asked about this later, Council President Richard Holbrooke of the United States said only council members had been allowed to speak at the meeting after hearing Helms.

19:01 01-20-00

Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited.

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