PANAMA CITY, Aug 26 (AFP) - Panama on Thursday pardoned four Cubans convicted in a plot to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro at a 2000 summit of Latin American and Iberian leaders here, government spokesman Mario Rognoni said.
Despite Cuba's threat to break off relations if the four were pardoned, Panama's government pardoned the men just days before the mandate of President Mireya Moscoso expires next Tuesday.
Relations had soured between the two countries in anticipation of Panama's move.
Moscoso's government announced it had recalled its ambassador from Havana on August 24 and asked Havana to do likewise with respect to its ambassador to Panama.
The decision affects Posada Carriles, 76, and accomplices Gaspar Jimenez Escobedo, Guillermo Novo Sampol and Pedro Remon who had all received prison sentences of between seven and eight years.
Anti-Castro leader Carriles was considered to be the plot's leader at the time of the trial.
Cuba has repeatedly requested the extradition of the men.
Although the decision is likely to chill relations between the two countries, analysts said it might not last.
Panama's presidency passes on September 1 to Martin Torrijos, a social democrat and son of former general Ricardo Omar Torrijos who ruled here until 1981 and was a close friend of Castro's.