By MICHAEL NORTON
 Associated Press Writer

 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- (AP) -- Twelve Cubans whose sailboat sank on the way to Florida and were rescued by a Haitian freighter asked Wednesday for political asylum in Haiti, Radio Vision 2000 reported.

 The freighter picked the men out of the Old Bahama Channel on May 31. Their boat sank in international waters near Cay Lobos island, about 250 miles from the United States.

 The group included doctors and other professionals, Yvon Paul, a central government deputy representative in Cap-Haitien, told independent Radio Vision 2000.

 The Cubans were examined at Cap-Haitien's Justinien Hospital and found to be in good health. They were jailed in the Cap-Haitien police station pending a government decision on their asylum request.

 Haiti re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1996, 35 years after the government of dictator Francois ``Papa Doc'' Duvalier severed them as a gesture of good will toward the United States. Since then, cooperation between the Caribbean nations has grown.

 About 800 Cuban doctors and medical personnel provide care in many remote areas of Haiti, and more than 100 Haitians have received medical school scholarships in Cuba. Cuban technicians also assist Haiti with fishery and agriculture projects.