Lady opposition activists held in Havana

Dozens of opposition activists have been arrested by the Cuban police, week ahead of an official visit by Pope Benedict XVI.  Most of those under arrest are members of the protest group Ladies in White, who are demanding the discharge of political detainees. Many were clogged as they started their hushed

weekly protest march along an avenue in the capital, Havana. The group says the country's Communist establishments have amplified stress on them in recent days.  The government says they are paid by the US to weaken Cuba's rebellion.

The Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) usually be present at Mass mob and then start a protest rally outside demanding for the freedom of all political detainees.  A group spokeswoman said that 19 of its members had been under arrest on Saturday evening while trying to start a march in central Havana. Three have since been out without indict.

On Sunday morning, police held another 36 members of the group - including head Bertha Soler - as they made their way to go to Mass together in Havana. After the church service, 22 women and two men were detained as they marched to the city centre, trying to go further than a route that has lately been tolerated by the authorities.

Witnesses said they were packaged into an unmarked bus by plain-clothed police officers. That group was also released without charge after numerous hours.  Elizardo Sanchez, of the banned but tolerated Cuban Human Rights Commission, condemned the arrests. He said it was still not clear where many of those arrested were being detained.