The alleged mysterious attacks that have sickened US diplomats in Cuba are "totally false" and being used to undermine US-Cuban relations, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Saturday.

"The so-called sonic attacks ... are totally false," said Rodriguez, who is visiting Washington. He described them as "political manipulation aimed at damaging bilateral relations."

Washington has not formally blamed Havana for the alleged attacks -- which US officials say may have been carried out with some kind of covert acoustic device -- but the White House has said it believes Cuba could bring the attacks to a halt.