Cuba: Dissident group of women marches in Havana

Cubas dissident group the Ladies in White carried out their peaceful protest on Sunday without their founder, Laura Pollan, who was rushed to hospital because of a respiratory infection.Following Mass, the Ladies in White exited Santa Rita Catholic Church and carried out their protest carrying white flowers to demand the release of political prisoners.One of the marchers blamed the Cuban government for state of Pollans health. She also said that Pollan should not be transferred to the military hospital.Pollan was rushed to hospital on Friday and was in intensive care with a respiratory infection.She has become known internationally since 2003 for organizing the Ladies in Whites weekly marches through Havana in support of jailed Cuban dissidents.The protests by the Ladies in White began in March 2003 to demand the release of 75 of their family members jailed in a government crackdown.As part of an agreement with the Catholic Church last year, Cuban President Raul Castro released 115 political prisoners, including those remaining from the crackdown. But the Ladies in White say about 65 political prisoners remain behind bars.Cuban leaders view dissidents as being in the pay of the United States, which works with them and directs funds to Cuban groups under a long-standing program to foster political change on the communist-led island.