Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro meets with 5 Cuban agents once imprisoned by US

A screenshot of Cuba's web site Cubadebate, taken on Monday, March 2, 2015, shows photographs of former president and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro meeting with the five Cuban agents who were the focus of a years-long political battle for their return to the island, in Havana, Cuba. The United States returned three of the men, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Antonio Guerrero, to Cuba on Dec. 17, 2014 under a prisoner exchange. The others, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, were already free after completing their U.S. prison sentences. The official daily Granma reported on Monday, March 2, 2015 that the meeting occurred on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2105. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

A screenshot of Cuba's web site Cubadebate, taken on Monday, March 2, 2015, show a photograph of former president and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro meeting with the five Cuban agents who were the focus of a years-long political battle for their return to the island, in Havana, Cuba. The United States returned three of the men, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Antonio Guerrero, to Cuba on Dec. 17, 2014 under a prisoner exchange. The others, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, were already free after completing their U.S. prison sentences. The official daily Granma reported on Monday, March 2, 2015 that the meeting occurred on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2105. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Former president and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has met with five Cuban agents who were the focus of a years-long political battle for their return to the island from imprisonment in the U.S.

The official daily Granma on Monday carries a letter by Castro about the five-hour meeting he says occurred on Saturday. Castro says the men caused no damage to the United States, where they were arrested in 1998 and later convicted on spying-related charges.

The letter is accompanied by photos of the meeting.

The United States returned three of the men to Cuba on Dec. 17 under a prisoner exchange. The others were already free after completing their U.S. prison sentences.

Cuba released USAID contractor Alan Gross on the same day in exchange for the agents.