Hector Palacio Ruiz, 54, President of the political party Democratic Solidarity, gives an interview ..,...

Hector Palacio Ruiz, 54, President of the political party Democratic Solidarity, gives an interview over the phone at his home in Havana February 13 in front of a poster of Pope John Paul II. Palacio Ruiz, who served a 13-month prison sentence, is one of hundreds of prisoners who have been pardoned by [Fidel Castro's] regime due to a petition of clemency made by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Communist island last month. [Palacio Ruiz was imprisoned for being critical of the Cuban leader during an interview for German television in which he referred to Castro as "crazy."]