Cuba releases several dissidents

• January 1, 2015 20:09

Cuba on December 31 released several leading dissidents after detaining them overnight to prevent an unauthorized protest.

Doanh nhân Mỹ Alan Gross (trái) trong cuộc họp báo tại Washington DC., sau khi được Cuba trả tự do. Nguồn: AFP/TTXVN

American businessman Alan Gross (left) at a press conference in Washington DC after being released from prison in Cuba. Source: AFP/VNA

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Among those released was artist Tania Bruguera, who organized the protest.

Earlier, police arrested several opposition political figures on the night of December 30 and placed others under house arrest ahead of a protest outside the Cuban government offices at Revolution Square in the capital, Havana.

Meanwhile, the Cuban opposition's Committee for Human Rights and National Reconciliation said more than 50 people had been arrested and about 10 of them were still being held overnight on December 31.

The arrests came two weeks after US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced on December 17 that the two neighbors would restore diplomatic relations and end decades of hostility.

The US State Department in a statement expressed deep concern over reports of Cuban authorities detaining and arresting activists.

However, the statement gave no indication that the incidents would derail a high-level visit by US officials to Havana in January to discuss restoring diplomatic relations.

According to Vietnam+