HAVANA,24 (AP) - At least nine anti-government activists were being held as Cuba prepares to try a government opponent, a human rights leader said Thursday.

``The detentions in the last 72 hours ... (are) for the trial,'' said Elizardo Sanchez, president of the independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation. ``The charges are not known and it is probable that all will be freed tomorrow,'' Sanchez told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Such temporary detentions commonly used by Cuban law enforcement to prevent public protests by government opponents.

Sanchez said the eight men and one woman were picked up in the cities of Havana, Manzanilo and Jiraba. He said he had no other details.

The detentions come on the eve of the Friday morning trial of Oscar Elias Biscet, an anti-abortion physician who last year headed a 40-day protest in Havana to demand the release of political prisoners.

Cuba says it holds no true prisoners of conscience, only common criminals.

Biscet faces up to seven years in prison for insulting patriotic symbols, public disorder and instigating delinquency.

Biscet was arrested Nov. 3 arrest after he allegedly hung the Cuban flag upside down during a protest as a sign of civil disobedience. It apparently was that act that most enraged Cuban authorities, for whom the national flag and other patriotic symbols are sacred.

AP-NY-02-24-00 2130EST

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press

[ BACK TO THE NEWS ]

NOTICIAS
...Prensa Independiente
...Prensa Internacional
...Prensa Gubernamental

OTHER LANGUAGES
...Spanish
...German
...French

INDEPENDIENTES
...Cooperativas Agrícolas
...Movimiento Sindical
...Bibliotecas
...MCL
...Ayuno

DEL LECTOR
...Letters
...Cartas
...Debate
...Opinión

BUSQUEDAS
...News Archive
...News Search
...Documents
...Links

CULTURA
...Painters
...Photos of Cuba
...Cigar Labels

CUBANET
...Semanario
...
...Informe 1998
...E-Mail

CubaNet News, Inc.
145 Madeira Ave,
Suite 207
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 774-1887