U.S. Coast Guard repatriates
10 Cuban refugees

MIAMI, Sept 2 (Reuter) - The United States on Tuesday repatriated 10 Cuban migrants who were picked up by a Coast Guard cutter in the Florida Straits after they fled the Communist-ruled island.

An 11th refugee was flown to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where his appeal for political asylum will be processed.

The Coast Guard found a first group of five men, two women and two children on Saturday about 18 miles (28 kms) east of Key Largo on a raft made of wood and inner-tubes. Two other men were later rescued from a dinghy about 10 miles (16 kms) south of the raft.

The migrants all appeared to be in good condition after being given food, water and medical attention on board a cutter, a Coast Guard statement said.

An Immigration and Naturalization Service officer interviewed the refugees and decided that all but one should be repatriated.

Cuban refugees were previously granted virtually automatic asylum, but the policy changed last year after talks between Washington and Havana. The Coast Guard has picked up 281 Cuban migrants this year, most of whom have been returned.

18:49 09-02-97