Brazilian Lawmaker: Free the Cuban Five

Brasilia, Apr 14.- The president of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Federal Senate of Brazil, Fernando Collor de Mello, demanded freedom for the Cuban Five, antiterrorists imprisoned in the United States.

"There are mechanisms within the U.S. legal system to release them; but the decision has to me made", said Collor de Mello, speaking on Thursday about Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando González, jailed in United States for more than 12 years.

Collor de Mello also talked about a motion approved on March 16 by the Human Rights Commission and by minority members of the Chamber of Deputies.

He referred to statements by former U.S. President James Carter that the situation of the Cubans Five cannot be justified by the U.S. government, and said they should be returned with their families as soon as possible.

Collor de Mello made his demand during the opening of the working sessions of the Committee of the Federal Senate. (Prensa Latina).

Radio Cadena Agramonte