Thousands march to free Cubans convicted of spying

[Jimmy2]

HAVANA -- Thousands of Cuban demonstrators are calling for the liberation of five men arrested 11 years ago for spying in the U.S.

Protest leader and painter Alexis Leyva Machado wants President Barack Obama to free the men because he said "they are anti-terrorism heroes, not villains."

The so-called "Cuban Five" were convicted in Miami, Florida, in 2001 of being unregistered foreign agents.

Cuban officials say the men were heroes trying to avert terrorist attacks on the island and maintain they didn't receive a fair trial because of strong sentiment in Miami against former Cuban President Fidel Castro. Three will be resentenced in October.

The demonstrators began their vigil at midnight Friday and protested throughout the morning Saturday in front of the U.S. mission in Havana.