Cuban Terrorist Crosses into US

A Cuban terrorist, caught with RPGs and sentenced for trying to kill President Fidel Castro, is preparing to apply for asylum in the United States. Luis Posada Carriles crossed illegally into the US from Mexico.

Mr Carriles, 77, is wanted in Venezuela over the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976.
Seventy-three people were killed in that attack. Mr Carriles later boasted of being responsible for a series of bomb attacks of Havana tourist spots in the 1990s.

Five years ago he was arrested in Panama and accused of plotting to kill Fidel Castro during a summit there. He was convicted of a conspiracy, but was later pardoned and freed by the outgoing Panamanian president - causing Cuba to break off diplomatic relations.

Since then he has been in hiding. Carilles will apply for asylum on Wednesday.

He says that his application will be based partly on his claim that he worked "directly and indirectly" for the CIA for years, and has thus helped US interests.

Story spliced from from BBC NEWS 4.12.2005

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