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Cuba frees 53 political prisoners in deal with US

Recently released dissidents Aide Gallardo (L) and Sonia Garro hold the Cuban national flag during a march in Havana January 11, 2015. Credit: Reuters

Cuba has completed the release of all 53 political prisoners it had promised the US it would free, Reuters have reported.

In a major step towards normalising relations with the United States, he release of the remaining detainees overcomes a big hurdle for historic talks aimed a reconciling the two nations.

There had been questions whether Havana would release all those it had pledged to free as part of the deal that Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced on 17 December to restore diplomatic ties, which Washington severed more than 50 years ago.

The White House welcomed Cuba's action as a milestone, but senior US officials said Washington would keep pressing Havana to free more people they consider political prisoners.