By Sandra Walewski, Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) - Fidel Castro admits that spies were sent to America to collect information on terrorist activities against Cuba, something he says is necessary because the United States "tolerates those who organize sabotage.''

But in an interview with CNN, the Cuban leader denied that there was an attempt to gather U.S. military secrets.

Ten people were arrested in Florida last month in what authorities say is the largest Cuban spy ring uncovered in the United States since Castro came to power in 1959.

They were accused of trying to penetrate U.S. military bases, infiltrate anti-Castro exile groups and manipulate media and political organizations.

In an interview to be broadcast tonight, Castro responded to a question about the arrests, acknowledging that Cuba placed spies in the United States. CNN said it is the first time the Cuban leader has made such an admission.

"Yes, we have sometimes dispatched Cuban citizens to the United States to infiltrate counterrevolutionary organizations, to inform us about activities that are of great interest to us,'' Castro said from the Ibero-American Summit in Portugal.

Castro defended what he said was an effort solely to learn about terrorist activities against Cuba.

Fernando Rojas, spokesman for the Cuban American National Foundation, an anti-Castro lobbying group based in Miami, said the CNN interview was further evidence the Cuban leader continues to be a threat to U.S. security.

"He's now admitting to the fact he's exporting violence here to the shores of the United States,'' Rojas said.

Three of those arrested on espionage charges have pleaded guilty to being an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors said one of the alleged spies was assigned to infiltrate the U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Miami, which coordinates U.S. military operations in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Another was a public works employee at Boca Chica Naval Air Station, the southernmost military installation in the continental United States, and allegedly kept the ring informed of comings and goings of military aircraft.

But Castro denied sending spies to collect U.S. military information.

"We aren't interested in strategic matters, nor are we interested in information about military bases,'' he said.

He accused the United States of having spies in "industrial quantities'' and said "we are subjected to ferocious and total espionage.''

A press officer with the State Department had no comment Monday night.

© 1998 Associated Press