Hackers gained unauthorised access to a Cuban government website earlier this week, leaving a statement criticising restrictions on Internet access by Cubans.

The hacked site - www.cubasi.cu - reportedly had the message on its front page for two days, before officials realised and removed the message.

Reporting on the incident, the Cubanet newswire said that, as well as rejecting the government restrictions in Internet access, the hackers claimed the Internet helped Cubans study and learn more about the world in general.

The newswire added that the hackers denied that they were students or graduates of Cuba's university.