Havana: Dissident groups unite

More than 300 Cuban dissident groups have formed a kind of opposition parliament, forming a huge coalition of opponents of Fidel Castro’s government, leaders of the umbrella organization said Monday.

Lead organizer Marta Beatriz Roque said the Assembly to Promote Civil Society pulls together 321 dissident organizations representing everything from human rights groups to independent libraries to labor and press unions operating outside Cuba’s communist system.

The groups cannot now hold a large gathering, but “we are doing what we can to do so as soon as possible,” said Roque. Such a gathering especially of dissident groups is unheard of in Cuba, where large meetings must be organized or approved by the government.

Jerusalem: 175 would-be suicide bombers reported in Israeli custody

Israel has captured 175 Palestinians suspected of plotting suicide bomb attacks, officials confirmed Monday, saying the figure shows that Palestinian militants are relentless in trying to attack Israelis.

Since Sept. 2000, 83 Palestinians have blown themselves up, killing 296 Israelis on buses, in malls, at gasoline stations and in cafes.

The Palestinians say harsh Israeli military strikes and strict travel bans in the West Bank and Gaza Strip provoke further bombings and shootings.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has denounced attacks on civilians, and was to repeat such a condemnation today in a speech to the Palestinian parliament.

The parliament was to have met Monday, but Arafat postponed the session for a day after Israel refused to issue travel permits to 13 of 87 legislators for security reasons.

Cuba: U.S. releases 3 detainees

The United States has released four al-Qaida and Taliban suspects from Guantanamo Bay, the first detainees to leave the island prison because they no longer pose a threat, officials said Monday.

Three Afghan detainees were handed over Sunday to Afghan officials at Bagram Air Base, Red Cross and U.S. officials said. The fourth detainee, a Pakistani, was flown on to Pakistan.

Even with the departures, the number of detainees at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo rose above 600 with the arrival of a planeload of about 30 prisoners from an undisclosed location. A Pentagon spokeswoman said the new total is “approximately 625.”