US asks Cuba to release all prisoners of conscience

US has asked Cuba to release all prisoners of consciousness as one of its governors landed in the Stalinist nation on a trade mission.

We continue to urge Cuba to release all prisoners of conscience. Some that have made the trip from Cuba to Spain have inquired about coming to the US,and we will evaluate those cases on a case-by-case basis, State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is in Cuba on a trade mission,he said.

We did have a conversation with him last week,brought him up to date on the status of the case of Alan Gross,and asked if he would raise it during his discussions with Cuban officials this week, Crowley said.