US rejects Cuba’s offer

The United States has rejected a offered made by Cuba to release jailed political dissidents in the communist country in exchange for five Cubans convicted of spying in the US.



The US State Department says the issue of political prisoners held against their will merely for making peaceful protests, is independent of the case of the five spies convicted under due process of the US judicial system.



Cuban leader Raul Castro proposed the swap as a goodwill gesture that could pave the way for talks with the incoming administration of President-Elect Barack Obama.