7 political prisoners from Cuba arrive in Madrid, first of 52 such prisoners to be freed

7 political prisoners from Cuba arrive in Spain

MADRID — Spain says seven former political prisoners from Cuba have arrived in Spain after being released in their homeland.

The Foreign Ministry official said the former prisoners — all men — arrived Tuesday on two separate flights from Havana.

They are the first of 52 such inmates that Cuban authorities have promised to free after Roman Catholic Church reached an agreement last week with the government to free those still imprisoned from a 2003 crackdown that jailed 75 activists.

Spain, which took part in the negotiations, agreed to accept the first group.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with ministry regulations.