Cuba Publishes Names of Pardoned Prisoners

HAVANA TIMES, Dec 29 — The Cuban government published the names and crimes of more than 2,900 beneficiaries of the amnesty announced this past Friday by President Raul Castro.

The list appeared yesterday in a special issue of La Gaceta Oficial, which also indicated that all of the prisoners would be released within a period of 48 hours.

According to the government, the measure was a response to requests from family members and religious institutions, as well as the announced visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba and the celebration of the discovery of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre figurine 400 years ago.