Cuba releases 13 political prisoners

Havana, Jan 9 (IANS/EFE) Cuba freed at least 13 political prisoners Thursday, the opposition group, Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) said.

This is believed to be connected to the process of Cuba's normalisation of relations with the US.

Most of the people freed Thursday were members of the Unpacu, led by the former high-profile political detainee Jose Daniel Ferrer, who confirmed the releases to Efe over telephone from the city of Santiago de Cuba.

The dissident Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation said it could confirm that 10 political prisoners were out of jail.

The commission's chairman, Elizardo Sanchez, pointed out that the political activists were free on parole, with an obligation to check in with authorities.

Five other political prisoners were released Wednesday.

Observers have said that this week's releases were in fulfilment of Havana's pledge to Washington to free 53 political detainees as part of the recently announced rapprochement between the two nations.

Cuba has already freed "some" of the designated prisoners, the US state department said Wednesday.

US officials had drawn up a list of prisoners to be freed, but neither government has disclosed any names.

--IANS/EFE

ddb/