A protest ends in Cuba

On Friday police in Havana removed 13 dissidents from a Catholic church they had occupied for three days in an attempt to get Pope Benedict to press for change during his upcoming visit to the communist island.

Vladimir Calderon Frias, the executive director of the National Republican Party was among those occupying the church.

He said church officials misled the demonstrators so they would allow police to enter the building.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN DISSIDENT VLADIMIR CALDERON FRIAS SAYING:

"At around 9 in the evening, the doors of the church opened and about 27 riot police came in. We resisted, trying to stay together and huddle, using techniques so they couldn't move us. The broke us, carried us away and took us to a bus,"

The operation brought to an end an incident the church had denounced as "illegitimate and irresponsible."

Calderon says they just want to be heard.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN DISSIDENT VLADIMIR CALDERON FRIAS SAYING:

"We want renovation in Cuba. We want democratic change in Cuba. We are a democratic force that has no intentions of violence but want it done by peaceful means. We want them to recognize us and to hear us."

Church officials said in a statement published in the Communist Party newspaper that police were called in Thursday after repeated efforts to persuade the dissidents to leave the church failed.

Pope Benedict will arrive in Cuba March 26th.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters