Canada's Trudeau to skip Castro funeral after backlash

OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not attend the funeral of Fidel Castro, his office said on Monday, days after Trudeau's warm comments about the late Cuban leader sparked a backlash.

Governor General David Johnston, Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Canada, will attend a commemoration in honor of Castro on Tuesday, at the request of Trudeau.

Trudeau sparked fury and online mockery after he referred to Castro as a "remarkable leader" and expressed his sorrow at the death of "Cuba's longest serving president".