Cuba grants US consular access to detained American

HAVANA (AFP) – US officials have visited a US citizen detained more than three weeks ago in Cuba, after the government of President Raul Castro granted consular access, an official with the US Interest Section in Havana said Tuesday.

"Yesterday (Monday) we gained access. A representative of the (US) consular office visited him, but we cannot provide details of the case," the official with the US Interest Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana told AFP.

The US citizen was arrested December 5, reportedly while distributing cell phones, laptops and other communications equipment. A US request for consular access to the detainee remained unanswered until recently.

The New York Times said the detainee, who has not been publicly identified, was a US government contract worker employed by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) of Bethesda, Maryland just outside Washington.

DAI, which is regularly contracted by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has confirmed one of its employees was arrested, but provided no additional details, citing privacy concerns.

In a speech to the national assembly on December 20, Castro accused the Obama administration of sending the man here to "illegally" supply Cuban opposition members with advanced communications equipment.

He claimed Washington has earmarked 55 million dollars to support Cuban dissidents.

There had been a slight thaw in US-Cuba relations since Obama took office in January and lifted some US travel and remittance restrictions to the island nation. Both governments recently resumed negotiations on migration and postal exchange issues.

Yet after more than five decades of enmity, these baby steps have not turned into strides. The United States insists Cuba should change, while Havana suggests the United States do the same.