MADRID (PL).— Friends of Cuba in Malaga demonstrated in front of the U.S. consulate here to demand the release of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, René González and Gerardo González, who are being held in U.S. prisons for combating terrorism.

Known as the Five, those anti-terrorist fighters infiltrated counterrevolutionary groups operating in Miami and sheltered by the government in Washington, and were convicted in a rigged trial that was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

"The imperialists are terrorists!," and "Freedom for the Five!" were two of the slogans most heard during the demonstration outside the U.S. consulate in Fuengirola.

Previous to that, and in the presence of local news reporters, representatives of the solidarity movement and prominent Malaga residents handed in a letter to the U.S. government demanding the immediate release of the Five.

The Malaga Free the Five Committee is made up of many different organizations, trade unions and political parties, and is supported by like organizations, such the Palestine, Iraq and Sahara friendship groups.

Cuba is a reference point for the left today, and a symbol of resistance for the oppressed; thus, others want to erase that experience from the map by any means possible, including using secret services and mercenaries, killing and destroying, and using corruption and intervention, the letter states.

One year ago, the trial of the Five was annulled and an oral hearing was held in February. Since then, these innocent men have remained abducted by the government of George W. Bush, the Malaga activists noted.

They announced that their Committee is to continue mobilizing, because "together we can win freedom for the Five and for so many other political prisoners, all of them fighters for us, because they are giving their lives for a better world."