It was reported that in February six men, Osmany Brito...

It was reported that in February six men, Osmany Brito Cartaya, Alberto Diaz Perez, Julio Alberto Morales Montero, Morlaix Nodal Pozo, Reidel Rodriguez Reyes and Hector Santana Vega, were sentenced to death for killing five guards during a bloody jailbreak in the provincial town of Ciego de Avila in December 1999. The death sentences were confirmed by the Cuban Supreme Court and the men faced execution if the Council of State, communist Cuba's highest ruling body presided over by President Fidel Castro, upholds the decision. The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, which also opposes the death penalty, was doubtful the men would escape the firing squad. "They committed very serious crimes. The predictions are very pessimistic," said commission President Elizardo Sanchez. "Hopefully, it (the execution) will be delayed for a long time, but it could be just a few days."