Spanish aid worker barred from Cuba

Havana, Oct 8 (IANS) Cuban authorities have detained Spanish aid worker Garcia Regojo and are making arrangements to send her back home, EFE reported Wednesday.

The Spanish mission in Havana said they had no idea why Regojo, who arrived in the eastern city of Santiago to help Cuba's storm victims resettle, was detained Tuesday.

Spain had been instrumental in lifting a five-year European Union diplomatic sanction against the communist ruled island and only weeks back helped in opening up a dialogue between the two to accelerate development of the island economy.

Regojo was being held at Havana's Jose Marti international airport by immigration officials to be flown back to Madrid, Spanish consulate-general said.

In Madrid, senior leader of main opposition Popular Party Jorge Moragas said Regojo had been held in custody in Cuba for 15 hours.

At a press conference, Moragas said that his party knew of the detention through the family of the woman, who works for a non-governmental organization that collaborates with the Cuban Catholic Church.