By GEORGE GEDDA
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department is restricting the freedom of
travel of Cuban diplomats in the United States, responding to curbs
imposed by Havana on U.S. officials in Cuba.

State Department sources said they believe the Cuban government made
the first move as a means of cutting back on travel by the chief U.S.
diplomat in Havana, James Cason.

They said Cason has logged 6,200 miles in travels around the island since
arriving at his post last summer.

The department officials said U.S. diplomats for the past several years
have been free to travel in a 700-kilometer (434-mile) area encompassing
the city of Havana and Havana Province. Any travel beyond that required
notification -- but not prior approval -- of the Cuban government. The same
rules applied to Cuban diplomats in Washington.

Last Monday, the U.S. officials said, Cuba informed the State Department
that mere notification of travel was not enough, that Cuba would have to
approve each trip beyond the free travel zone.

The officials, asking not to be identified, said that Washington imposed
the same restriction on Cuban diplomats in Washington within 24 hours.
The Cubans had been free to travel without approval to any point within the
Washington Beltway. Permission also was granted to visit Dulles Airport
in suburban Virginia and a Virginia shopping center beyond the Beltway.

The officials said the U.S. response to travel requests by Cuban diplomats
would depend on how flexible the Cuban side is in acquiescing to
American requests in Havana.

Attempts to reach the Cuban diplomatic mission here Friday night were
unsuccessful.

The State Department officials were quite certain that Cuba was uneasy
about Cason's extensive travels.

"He's talked to hundreds of people," one official said.

Cason ran afoul of President Fidel Castro late last month he showed up at
the meeting of dissidents and spoke to a group of international reporters,
telling them that "the Cuban government is afraid, afraid of freedom of
conscience, afraid of freedom of expression, afraid of human rights."

Last week, Castro issued a sarcastic response, saying, "Actually, Cuba
is so afraid that it will calmly take all the time needed to decide on its
course of action regarding this bizarre official."

"Anyone can see that this is a shameless and defiant provocation,"
Castro said, apparently referring to Cason's decision to meet with the
dissidents.

The State Department said it was protesting Castro's remarks,
considering them to be derogatory.

Meanwhile, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said Friday in
Havana that despite the mistrust at the official level, increasing numbers of
Americans, including Cuban-Americans, support normalized relations.

Speaking at a news conference, the foreign minister pointed to several
recent polls to support his contention. He said the changing attitudes of
Americans contrast sharply with Washington's hard-line policies.

Among Havana's current complaints with Washington is the treatment of
five convicted Cuban spies held in American prisons. Cuba charges that
the men are being hindered in efforts to prepare for an appeal because
they are being held in solitary confinement.

Dan Dunne, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman, said he could not discuss
specific inmate cases but contended, "Our inmates are housed in a
manner that is commensurate to their security needs." He added that all
are treated in a "humane, fair and consistent manner and are provided with
a safe and secure living environment."

He did not discuss Cuban claims about the consequences of solitary
confinement on the appeal process.

The five were convicted in Miami of trying to infiltrate U.S. military bases
and Cuban exile groups in Florida. Their sentences range from 15 years to
life.

Cuban authorities say the men were working to prevent Cuban exile
groups from launching terrorist acts against their homeland.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.