Hundreds arrested in Cuba: rights group

In its latest monthly study, the opposition Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) reported that the government arrested 674 people on "political motives" in July. According to the group, at least 21 of those arrested were treated violently while in custody.

The majority of the detentions were brief, according to the CCHDRN, "in a persistent context of the violation of all civil and political rights and other fundamental rights."

Most involved Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), who hold regular marches in Havana following Sunday Mass.

Called "counterrevolutionary" and "US mercenaries" by the government, the CCHDRN also reported an incident in which Cuban authorities tried to have dissidents expelled from a democracy conference in El Salvador but failed.

Elizardo Sanchez, the author of the CCHDRN study, said at least 71 of the dissidents arrested in July were victims of "acts of repudiation" carried out by "secret police and parapolice elements."

The report comes as international attention is focused on Cuba, with the country working to restore diplomatic relations with the US after the reopening of their respective embassies after five decades and the possible easing of a travel ban imposed by the United States.

Cuba recently received several high-level foreign visitors, including German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

mkg/cmk (EFE, dpa)