HAVANA - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said Thursday the Libyan government under Muammar Gadhafi has put up an "amazing" resistance against the air raids by NATO allies.

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"One can agree or disagree with Gadhafi's political ideas, but nobody has the right to question the existence of Libya as an independent state and member of the United Nations," Castro wrote in his regular "Reflections" column published by the official daily Granma.

The comments came after Castro watched news reports about a meeting between US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his British counterpart Liam Fox, whose "indignation" at Libya's resistance to the NATO bombings was pointed out by the former Cuban leader.

Castro also echoed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who said Wednesday that the bombings of Gaddafi's private residence were illegal acts of war and went beyond the UN Security Council resolution which endorsed action to protect Libya's civilian population only.

Castro retreated from official duties after falling ill in 2006 and officially resigned earlier this month as First Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party. He has been continuing to comment on world affairs in his regular newspaper column.