Washington  - US President George W Bush Tuesday offered his last message to the people as Cuba as he prepares to leave office: keep fighting for your freedom.

Bush praised the communist island's political dissidents for their stance against the Castro regime, and reiterated his pledge to assist Havana once it agrees to a democratic transition.

"The United States stands prepared to respond to any request for assistance from a Cuba that transitions to democracy," Bush said in a statement.

Bush has taken a hardline stance on Cuba during his eight years in office. He created a special team to prepare for an eventual collapse of Fidel Castro's and later Raul Castro's government.

The aging and ailing Fidel formally stepped down in February 2008, ceding power to his brother, who had been governing since Fidel fell ill in the summer of 2006.

Bush tightened restrictions on travel and on remittances Cubans or Cuban Americans can send home to their families, in an attempt to further isolate the regime.

Bush said he and first lady Laura Bush "send our Cuban hermanos y hermanas (brothers and sisters) a message of peace and love. May God Bless you and continue to give you the faith and courage to fight for the day when the light of liberty will shine on the people of Cuba."

When Bush leaves office Tuesday, he will be the 10th US president to depart with the Castros still in power, despite long-standing sanctions and efforts to undermine the regime. (dpa)