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Chavez Demands Freedom For Cuban Five

CUBA , October 14, 2007.-  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias, speaking  from the central Cuban province of Villa Clara, demanded freedom for five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unjustly held in US prisons for over nine years.

From the Che Guevara Memorial in the city of Santa Clara, Chavez upon the large audience to fight against injustices committed against the five.

The Cuban Five —Antonio Guerrero, René Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez and Ramón Labañino— were detained in 1998 for trying to prevent anti-terrorist actions against the island organized by right-wing anti-Cuba organizations based in Florida. The men were charged with espionage and punished with extremely harsh sentences for crimes they never committed.

Amid the collective acclaim of thousands of Cuban and Venezuelans gathered in Che Guevara Square, Chavez greeted the relatives of the Five and described the anti-terrorist fighters as “heroes of Cuba and Latin America.”

During his radio and TV show "Alo Presidente", which this week is dedicated to legendary guerrilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara, Chavez also blasted Washington's open protection of self-confessed terrorist Posada Carriles and demanded his extradition to Venezuela. (Cubaminrex-AIN)