Friday, July 17, 1998; 2:43 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department issued an appeal Friday for the release of four Cubans who were arrested a year ago this week, calling them brave fighters for dignity and democracy.

Spokesman James P. Rubin said the four were arrested for conducting peaceful pro-democracy activities and have never been given a free, fair and public trial.

The four are Martha Beatriz Roque, Vladimiro Roca, Felix Bonne and Rene Gomez Manzano, leaders of Cuba's Dissident Working Group.

``We call on Fidel Castro not to resist the democratic tide of history and individual human dignity, and to release these four -- and all other -- political prisoners,'' Rubin said.

© Copyright 1998 The Associated Press