Castro to release political prisoners?
Published:Friday | December 19, 2008 | 9:21 AM
Cuban President Raul Castro has suggested he would release political prisoners as a gesture to the US.
Speaking during a trip to Brazil, Mr Castro said the gesture would represent a call to the US to release five Cubans in custody there.
The five were convicted in 2001 for spying on Cuban exiles, but are considered heroes in Cuba.
US President-elect Barack Obama has said some restrictions on Cuba could be eased after he takes over in January.
Mr Obama has said that he would lift restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba, but maintain the US trade embargo to press for changes in the Communist-run country.
Cuba has survived more than four decades of US sanctions against the communist government led by Fidel Castro and, since February, by his brother Raul.