Cuban musicians invited to attend the Grammy Awards have been denied US visas needed to attend the Los Angeles ceremony.

Vice Minister of Culture Abel Acosta said.”Something as noble as music is being converted into a policy against Cuba.”

Surrounded by some of the Cuban musicians nominated for Sunday’s awards, Mr Acosta showed journalists the letters from the US Interests Section in Havana, denying their visa requests.

Officials at the American mission declined to comment.

Singer Ibrahim Ferrer, of the Buena Vista Social Club, a multiple Grammy winner, was among those at the news conference. Other Cuban artists nominated for this year’s Grammy awards were percussionist Amadito Valdes, veteran guitarist Manuel Galvan, and singer Barbarito Torres.

Ferrer and pianist Chucho Valdes were among the Cuban artists who missed the Latin Grammy Awards in Miami last fall because their visas did not arrive in time.

Credit: Ananova