HAVANA (CNN) -- Cuba unveiled a two-pronged crackdown Monday,
                  proposing harsh new penalties for common criminals and political opponents
                  who "collaborate" with the U.S. government.

                  The planned legislation, which would expand the use of the death penalty and
                  introduce life imprisonment, follows a speech last month by President Fidel
                  Castro in which he pledged to get tough on the growing crime problem on the
                  communist-ruled island.

                  The new measures against internal subversion also appeared to constitute a
                  defensive and hostile Cuban response to moves announced by U.S. President
                  Bill Clinton last month to modify the long-standing U.S. economic embargo
                  against Cuba.

                  Meeting in an extraordinary session, the National Assembly considered two
                  new laws aimed at bolstering the legal and security defenses of Cuba's
                  one-party communist system against internal and external threats. The
                  legislation was set to be approved as early as Tuesday.

                  Harsh penalties for embargo 'collaborators'

                  The bill aimed at subversion cited the need to increase penal defenses against
                  what it said were continuing attempts by the U.S. government to damage
                  Cuba's economy through sanctions and to subvert its political system.

                  Accusing the U.S. authorities of financing and supporting
                  "counter-revolutionary and annexationist elements inside and outside Cuba,"
                  the bill proposed harsh jail terms of up to a maximum of 30 years for those
                  who collaborated with the U.S. government, its agencies or representatives.

                  The bill specifically referred to the 1996 U.S. Helms- Burton law which
                  sharply tightened the long-standing U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. It
                  also reaffirmed Cuba's rejection of the embargo modifications recently
                  announced by Clinton.

                  Presented by Washington as an easing of the impact of the embargo for the
                  Cuban people, the recent U.S. measures widened approval for the sending of
                  cash remittances to the island and proposed increased flights. They also
                  proposed licensed sales of U.S. food and farm inputs to nongovernmental
                  Cuban entities.

                  The Cuban draft law said these U.S. moves "do not signify, as has been
                  publicly announced, any change in (U.S.) policy towards our country, because
                  the intention is to subvert the Revolution and keep intact the iron blockade."

                  It proposed jail terms of between seven and 30 years for those who supplied
                  or sought information which could be used by the U.S. authorities to apply
                  Helms-Burton sanctions against the Cuban economy or foreign investors.

                  Dissidents also targeted

                  Also targeted by the draft law was the possession or dissemination of
                  "subversive" literature produced by the U.S. government, and collaboration or
                  relations with radio or TV stations or written publications that sought to assist
                  U.S. attempts to damage or undermine Cuba's economy or society.

                  Dissidents also would face overwhelming fines and have their belongings
                  confiscated.

                  These last sections appeared directly aimed at clamping down on the activities
                  on the island of political dissidents and dissident independent journalists who
                  oppose the government by sending critical commentaries and articles to media
                  abroad, especially in the United States.

                  Death penalty to be expanded

                  A second bill sought to toughen penalties against an increase in crime, including
                  murders, prostitution and drug-smuggling, which has accompanied the Caribbean
                  island's growing welcome of foreign investment and tourism in recent years.

                  It proposed the death sentence for serious cases of drug- trafficking, corruption
                  of minors and armed robbery, and recommended life imprisonment for violent
                  robbery and house- breaking and the smuggling out of illegal emigrants.

                  The death penalty was common in the 1960s and 1970s, but has been rare in
                  the past two decades.

                  During his January 5 speech celebrating the 40th anniversary of the National
                  Revolutionary Police, Castro called Cuba's growing crime problem a threat to
                  the revolution.

                  Castro noted Monday that the death penalty has local opponents.

                  "But we are against the death of the country," he said, to applause from
                  lawmakers. "The country has to be saved. That is an absolute priority."

                  In recent weeks, two Cuban men convicted of killing a pair of Italian tourists
                  were sentenced to death. The sentence has automatically been appealed to
                  Cuba's Supreme Court.

                  Once notably free of street crime and violence, Cuba has seen a surge in
                  prostitution, robbery and theft -- even murder -- in recent years.

                  Amid continuing economic crisis brought on by the collapse of the former
                  Soviet bloc, declining state rations have made it hard for many residents to live
                  on state salaries that average $10 a month.

                  Meanwhile, new dollar-only stores have opened up, tempting Cubans with
                  quality food, electronics and other products that only few can afford.
                  Thousands have turned to prostitution or theft to get the U.S. dollars needed to
                  buy those things.

                  "If we don't toughen the repression of this kind of conduct, this could damage
                  our tourism," Attorney-General Juan Escalona told reporters. Tourism has
                  become Cuba's biggest single source of hard currency income.

                  Since Castro's speech last month, the authorities have sent hundreds of police
                  to the streets to clamp down against all forms of crime and illegal activity,
                  from street hustling to prostitution. They have also launched a recruitment
                  drive for more officers.

                                 Reuters contributed to this report.