Cuba blames noisy crickets

American and Canadian diplomats in Havana may have been made ill by a cacophony of chirping crickets, not by a mysterious sonic weapon, a panel of Cuban scientists says. The conclusion is endorsed by some United States scientists, though an investigation is being led by the FBI into the brain injuries suffered by some diplomats. The diplomats were withdrawn in August after they complained of suffering nausea, hearing loss and concussion-like symptoms. There was speculation that a sonic weapon had been used, a ploy reminiscent of the Cold War, when the US embassy in Moscow was bombarded with microwaves. Cuba asked its scientists to study the problem and also invited the FBI and Canadian authorities to investigate.