MIAMI, February 26, 2007.— A coalition of Cuban-American organizations in Miami that oppose the US blockade against the island demanded on Friday that the US Justice Department try Luis Posada Carriles on charges of terrorism. Andres Gomez, spokesperson of the Marti Alliance, told EFE news service that Posada, along with Orlando Bosch, were responsible for the bomb sabotage of a Cuban airliner in mid flight in 1976. "He is guilty of the first degree murder of 73 persons," said Gomez, who is also the coordinator of the Antonio Maceo Brigade that supports better relations between the United States and Cuba. Ever since Posada was arrested in Miami in May 2005, the coalition has demanded the US government try him for the plane bombing and other serious crimes, instead of only charging him with immigration fraud and lying on his citizenship application. "We insist that he be tried for his crimes of terrorism," said Gomez in a press conference. Posada is being held in New Mexico, while Washington ignores Venezuela’s request to extradite him to the South American nation. He escaped from prison in Venezuela while awaiting trial for the airline sabotage. Judge Kathleen Cardone set Posada’s trial for May 10. He is accused of seven charges of migratory fraud and perjury during the naturalization process. (Cubaminrex- Granma)
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