4 suspects plead innocent in alleged anti-Castro plot

             By CHRIS HAWLEY
             Associated Press

             SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Four Cuban exiles pleaded innocent Thursday to
             charges that they plotted to kill Cuban President Fidel Castro, and one of their
             lawyers called the case hypocritical in light of alleged U.S.-sponsored assassination
             attempts.

             The four were among seven exiles, including a director of the most influential
             Cuban exile group, indicted by a federal grand jury in San Juan on Tuesday.

             Theirs is believed to be the first such court case after years of alleged plots against
             Cuba's Communist leader.

             ``Not guilty,'' said Angel Alfonso, 58; Angel Hernandez Rojo, 64; Juan Bautista
             Marquez, 62; and Francisco Cordova, 51. Alfonso is from Union City, N.J., and
             the other three are from South Florida.

             They were freed on bail by the U.S. District Court.

             It could be months before the case comes to trial. The FBI said more arrests and
             indictments are expected.

             The case stems from the arrest of the four men off Puerto Rico on Oct. 27 after a
             search of their yacht revealed weapons that included two .50-caliber sniper rifles.

             None of the defendants would comment after the arraignment. But Alfonso's
             lawyer, Ricardo Pesquera, called the charges ``the greatest hypocrisy of the
             United States government.''

             ``One of the things that we're going to be arguing is that since 1959 the
             government of the United States itself has condoned and instigated and financed
             numerous assassination attempts against Fidel Castro and other leaders,'' Pesquera
             said.

             The three others who have been indicted are expected to appear in court next
             Wednesday to be formally charged. They are Jose Rodriguez Sosa, Alfredo Otero
             and Jose Antonio Llama.

             In Washington, Attorney General Janet Reno was asked Thursday whether the
             indictment represented a change in U.S. policy. She said she was not aware of any
             change.

             Llama's indictment was a blow to the Miami-based Cuban American National
             Foundation, of which he is a director. Castro has accused the foundation of
             plotting to kill him, but the group says it is committed to peaceful political
             persuasion.