Cuban political prisoner Egberto Escobedo Morales told Cuban Democratic Directorate [in Spanish] today that he has ended a hunger strike he started April 16 because of poor health. But he is continuing his protest in the form of a fast during which he will only ingest liquid nutrients.

Escobedo, whose weight is down to 110 pounds, said he is suffering from colon and lung problems. He is currently being held in the same prison hospital where fellow political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died Feb. 23 — four months ago today — after an 86-day hunger strike.

Escobedo, who has been imprisoned since 1995, reiterated three demands of his protest:

• The release of all political prisoners.
• Negotiations between the government and opposition on a democratic transition.
• The allowing of visits to Cuban prisons by international human rights groups.

Escobedo also said he is opposed to the lifting of American sanctions on the Castro regime.