US says Cuba is lying about negotiating release of Alan Gross

US says Cuba is lying about negotiating release of Alan Gross
Posted: Sep 18, 2012 1:31 PM RDT Updated: Sep 18, 2012 1:31 PM RDT

The State Department says the Cuban government is lying about
negotiating the release of a Maryland man.

Cuba says it is waiting to hear from the U.S. about exchanging Alan
Gross for five Cuban men held in an American federal prison on espionage
charges.

Gross has been in a Cuban prison for almost three years on similar charges.

Now he's reportedly very ill.

The State Department issued a statement saying in part, "We have
repeatedly made clear to the Cuban government that we reject the notion
of exchanging members of the so-called 'Cuban Five' for an American
citizen who the Cuban government has imprisoned simply for trying to
bring internet access to the Cuban people. But we have always been ready
to hear from Cuba about a humanitarian gesture to release Mr. Gross."

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19570594/us-says-cuba-is-lying-about-negotiating-release-of-alan-gross