Cuban dissident leaves Spain for US

Sep 27, 2010, 13:09 GMT

Madrid - One of the 36 Cuban dissidents who arrived in Spain after being released from prison left Monday for the United States.

Arturo Perez de Alejo said he was moving to Miami to be reunited with family members living there.

Perez de Alejo spent two months in Spain after being released from prison in Cuba, which has agreed to free a total of 52 dissidents.

After settling in the United States, Perez de Alejo intended to 'work a lot and to continue fighting' for democracy in Cuba, he said at Madrid airport.

Twenty-one others among the 36 Cuban dissidents who have arrived in Spain since July have also said they want to move to the US for family reasons.

Washington has indicated its willingness to receive them, dissidents said.

Another of the 36 dissidents who arrived in Spain has since moved to Chile.

After weeks of negotiations, the Roman Catholic Church and the Cuban government made a deal in early July, for the release of 52 dissidents. They had been jailed in the so-called Black Spring of 2003.

Of the 52, 36 have so far agreed to come to Spain, from where they may move to another country if they wish.

Some of the others among the 52 want to stay in Cuba or to travel directly to the US, according to Spanish media reports.