Cuba releases 53 prisoners and improves US relations

Cuba has released all 53 prisoners it had promised to free, senior US officials have said, a major step toward détente with Washington.

The release of the remaining prisoners sets a positive tone for historic talks next week aimed at normalising relations after decades of hostility, the officials said.

They described the Cuban government’s release over the weekend of the last detainees on the list as a milestone but said they would keep pressing Havana to free more people the US considers political prisoners.