The World - News from June 6, 1988

As part of an effort to clean up his human rights image, Cuban President Fidel Castro has said he will release all but 44 of his country’s political prisoners, the New York Times reported. Castro announced his decision in a letter to Cardinal John O’Connor of New York, the newspaper said. The cardinal recently returned from a visit to Cuba but could not be reached for immediate comment. The newspaper quoted Castro as saying that 429 political prisoners are currently being held in Cuban jails and that he is prepared to release 385. It noted that American human rights experts believe that there are far more than 429 political prisoners and that U.S. officials have said the number may run into the thousands.