The Roman Catholic Church in Cuba says four more political prisoners will be released and sent to Spain, bringing to 36 the total number freed under an agreement with Cuban President Raul Castro's government.
Church officials said Friday the four prisoners have "accepted the proposal" to leave for Spain and would be sent there shortly. They are among 52 prisoners that Havana has promised to release as part of the deal involving the church and Spain.
If all 52 dissidents are freed, it would be Cuba's largest mass liberation of political prisoners in recent years.
The dissidents were part of a group of 75 people who were arrested in March 2003 and sentenced to lengthy prison terms following a Cuban government crackdown on the opposition.
Cuba has denied holding political prisoners, saying they are "mercenaries" who Havana claims were working with the United States to undermine Cuban communism.
They will be released and sent to Spain, bringing to 36 the total number freed under an agreement with Cuban President Raul Castro's government
