In Cuba, speculation on possible travel freedom shockwave

AFP, April, 2008

HAVANA (AFP) — Speculation was rife Friday that Cuba could soon scrap unpopular policies requiring citizens to get costly permits to leave and return to the country, ending what effectively amounts to a decades-old travel ban.

As hundreds of would-be travelers lined up at the migration office for regulation exit permits, an official, asked about any policy change, told AFP here there was no news yet on the expected changes.

"Nothing yet ... like the whole country, we are here waiting for changes. But everything is in effect as it always has been," he said.

The potential shift would be the most momentous to date by President Raul Castro, who took office from his ailing brother Fidel in February and has ended several smaller prohibitions.

The Spanish daily El Pais cited an unnamed government official in a report Friday as saying Castro will give a green light soon to ...