Havana - Cuba's vice president opened a non-aligned summit Wednesday with a broadside against the United States, telling delegates from the 116-nation group that the 'hegemonic power' was destroying the world.

Carlos Lage lashed out at US President George W Bush's policies in the fight against terrorism, charging they had led to pre-emptive war and regime change - methods he called 'fascist.'

'Amid wars and threats of more wars, the world we live in is more unjust and more unequal every day,' Lage said as the 14th Non-Aligned Movement summit opened in Havana, the capital of communist-run Cuba.

Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro was doubtful for the summit, having turned over power to his brother Raul in early August. But Lage provided defiant Castro-style barbs aimed at the US.

'The real story has been one of growing domination by a nation that applies economic and political pressures without scruples, that thinks it has the right to invade any country to fulfil its objectives and that leads the world we live in to its own destruction,' Lage said.

A draft final statement that heads of state and government are due to approve before the summit ends Saturday contains strong criticism of Washington and its allies.

Lage called for a reform of the UN Security Council, including an end of the veto power of its five permanent members - the US, Russia, China, France and Great Britain.

The Cuban vice president also blasted the US for its refusal to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).

'The hegemonic power demands that the authors of crimes anywhere on the planet be judged or even extradited to the United States, and on the other hand the North American armed forces, for similar or worse crimes, must have immunity, lest credits and financial help are over,' Lage indicated.

The Cuban official called for NAM unity, calling it essential in the search for a new international order.

NAM foreign ministers will meet on Wednesday and Thursday to finalise documents for heads of state and government to sign before the summit ends on Saturday.

Among the presidents due Wednesday in Havana were Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Lebanon's Emile Lahoud, Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines.

Earlier, Cuba made plain that it plans no major economic opening in the post-Castro era. Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez ruled out China-style reforms for the island.

'That is not planned. It's not the wish of the people and it's not part of our thinking,' he told reporters in Havana Tuesday.

Cuba's economy had proved its stability since Castro fell ill and had grown by an annual average of 5 per cent in the last five years, Rodriguez said.

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