Spain says first group of released Cuban prisoners to arrive in Madrid on Tuesday

Freed Cubans to be flown to Madrid

MADRID — A group of political prisoners being released by Cuba will arrive in Spain on Tuesday, a government official said.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said they will leave Cuba on Monday night and arrive with their families on flights due to land in Madrid on Tuesday between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (1100 GMT and 1200 GMT; 7 a.m. EDT and 8 a.m. EDT).

Cuba last week announced it would release 52 Cuban political prisoners following negotiations with the Vatican and Spain.

The move is seen as a major step forward for Cuba, which is being pressed to take greater steps toward democracy. The 52 prisoners include opposition leaders, journalists and activists who were jailed following a broad crackdown on dissent in 2003 that resulted in lengthy prison terms on treason and other charges.

There was some confusion Monday about how many freed prisoners and their relatives would be aboard the Air Europa and Iberia flights from Havana to Madrid.

Spain’s private Europa Press news agency quoted Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos as saying Monday that 11 prisoners would be flown out. But that could not immediately be confirmed.

Europe Press said several dozen relatives of the prisoners also would be aboard the flights.

Moratinos has said that on arriving in Spain, the Cubans will be free to go where they wish, including to other countries.

Spain last week said it would accept any of the 52 prisoners who want to live in Spain. Initially it was agreed that five would be sent here.