Havana (AFP) - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday asked his compatriots for "understanding" and "patience," saying that he had taken note of the existence of demonstrations in several regions protesting the power outages on the island, and that there was no "immediate" solution.

The president said during a regular session of the National Assembly dedicated to the "extremely complex situation" that Cuba is going through in terms of electricity production, that there are people "knocking on pots and chanting slogans against the leaders" as an expression of "their annoyance and lack of understanding," considering the matter legitimate "because they are living in a difficult situation." ".

"Some take advantage of this opportunity to chant slogans against the revolution," while "others participate in vandalism, stone-throwing, and window-smashing," he added.

He continued, "Those who act in this way (...) meet the aspirations of those who wish for a counter-revolution and what the wishes of those who keep us under siege," in a direct reference to the United States.

Dozens of residents of the Los Palacios region, in western Cuba, demonstrated in mid-July and knocked on pots to protest the power outages, according to what the authorities announced, in an unusual mobilization on the island. Videos spread on social media showing their anger.

According to independent media, similar protests took place this week in Jaguy Grande (west), in the center of Sagua la Grande and Cayparín.

Cuba has been experiencing difficulties in the electricity sector since May, and many power stations are out of order or undergoing maintenance.

"We ask people to understand," the Cuban president said Friday, noting that the country currently has "less electric production capacity" than demand, which reached a "record" level due to the high temperatures in recent days.

The island is experiencing its worst economic crisis in three decades, with increasing shortages of food, medicine and fuel.