Geneva  - Countries split largely along political and economic lines Thursday when Cuba was reviewed at the United Nations on its human rights record.

Many developing nations praised Havana, focusing on its strong health system and overseas medical missions and condemning the United States' embargo on the island.

They also commended Cuba for being among the only developing nations fully on track to meet the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

At the opposite end, most Western nations who spoke during the Universal Period Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council, criticized Cuba on a number of issues, including its repression of human rights activists and journalists and limitations on free speech.

Also, the delegation to the review came under scrutiny with some nations rejecting claims from Havana that it had an independent judiciary and that there were no prisoners of conscience in the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the session, Omar Pernet Hernandez, a 63-year-old Cuban dissident, said he was forced into exile after being placed repeatedly in prison for his political stands, harking back to his days as a young man who refused mandatory military service.

He said his health was very deteriorated owing to ill-treatment received while serving several lengthy stints in Cuban jails.

The Cuban Justice Minister, Maria Esther Reus, said the island had an open system and that no one had been imprisoned for political stands they took, though she added that exceptions were made for those who cooperated with the US embargo.

Rights groups say dozens of activists are still in detention, many without trial.

Under the UPR, introduced following the creation of the Council in 2006, each member nation of the UN will be reviewed publicly on its rights record once every four years. So far about 55 nations have been reviewed. (dpa)