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Intelligence

Cuba seeks 20-year jail term to accused U.S. 'spy'

RIA Novosti

09:25 05/02/2011

HAVANA, February 5 (RIA Novosti) - Cuban prosecutors have requested a 20-year prison term for a U.S. citizen accused of 'spying,' the Communist Party newspaper Granma has reported.

Alan Gross, 61, a contractor of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was held in Cuba in December 2009.

Cuban leader Raul Castro said the U.S. national distributed satellite communication equipment to hostile groups and accused him of crimes against the Cuban state.

"The prosecution seeks a 20-year sentence," the newspaper said. The trial date will be fixed shortly, the report said without revealing further details.

The U.S. government has demanded the release of Gross. Analysts believe the case will affect the U.S.-Cuban dialogue.



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