BAYAMO: Cuba was reported to have arrested celebrated blogger Yoani Sanchez Friday in a crackdown on dissidents as the vehicular manslaughter trial of a Spanish politician got underway here.
Angel Carromero, 27, who runs the youth wing of Spain's ruling Popular Party, went on trial for the death of a prominent dissident, Oswaldo Paya, in a car crash near this town in eastern Cuba.
Authorities allege that the Spaniard was driving above the speed limit when his car hit an unpaved section of road outside Bayamo, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree on July 22.
Paya, 60, a staunch opponent of the Communist government's one-party rule and a 2002 recipient of Europe's Sakharov prize for defense of human rights, was killed along with another Cuban dissident riding in the rented car.
Carromero, who was behind the wheel, and a Swedish activist were injured in the accident.
Spanish press reports have said that the Cuban government is seeking a seven-year prison sentence against Carromero for "traffic violations resulting in death" which carries a maximum sentence of 10 ten years in prison.
Dissidents said that on the eve of the trial, Cuban authorities Thursday detained 22 opposition activists, including opposition leader Guillermo Farinas, in the city of Santa Clara.
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