Washington  - John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, faulted leading Democratic candidate Barack Obama Tuesday for suggesting he would meet unconditionally with the Cuban leadership.

Meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro would bolster the "private fiefdom" running the country, McCain said, referring to the formal handing of power from longtime ruler Fidel Castro in January to his brother.

McCain vowed to continue pressuring the Cuban regime by keeping tight sanctions that have been in place since the 1960s until the communist island takes steps toward democratic reforms and free elections.

The Arizona senator said he would provide more assistance to Cuban dissidents struggling for civil rights.

"I would provide more material assistance to courageous human rights activists," he said.

Cuba policy could play prominently in the November 4 presidential election, particularly in the key battleground state of Florida, where Cuban-Americans back a hardline approach toward the Castro government.

Obama aides campaign denied McCain charges that their campaign was soft on Cuba, saying McCain speech in represented a continuation of the Bush administration policy that has not been effective.

Denis McDonough, a foreign policy aide, said on CNN that Obama would only meet with Cuba's leaders only after "adequate" preparations have been put in place to steer Cuba toward free elections.

McDonough said Obama would lift rules tightened by the Bush administration that restrict travel to Cuba for families with relatives on the island and end limits on how much money Cuban- Americans can send to their families back home.

"I didn't hear anything different," McDonough said of McCain's address. (dpa)