Cuba’s government on Tuesday said it would release 553 prisoners following an announcement by the outgoing U.S. administration that it would remove the Caribbean country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The decision by the United States is a step in the right direction, said Cuban’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez, but the measures are “delayed & limited.”

“Cuba should have never been included in arbitrary list of State sponsors of terrorism,” Mr Rodríguez said on X. “That was an arbitrary and politically motivated designation with very severe impact on the Cuban population, damaging economy, causing scarcities and encouraging migration to U.S.”

“The persecution of fuel supplies, medical cooperation programmes, financial and commercial transactions, tourism, U.S. citizens’ travels and anything representing a source of income for our population is still in place,” Mr Rodríguez added, as he called for an end to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, which has been in place since 1962.

The planned release of the 553 prisoners convicted of various crimes is to take place in stages, according to Cuba’s foreign ministry.

Hundreds of people are imprisoned in the country for participating in peaceful protests.

It was initially unclear who would be released.

President Joe Biden’s decision to rescind Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism comes in the dying days of his administration.

The decision, seen as largely symbolic, will have to be reviewed by Congress.

Mr Biden’s predecessor and successor, Donald Trump, put Cuba back on the list shortly before the end of his first term in 2021.

He could directly revoke Biden’s decision after his inauguration on Monday.

(dpa/NAN)