The Cuban authorities appear to be clamping down harder on dissidents and their supporters since the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo. He died last week after a 85-day hunger strike. He had spent seven years in jail and started his hunger strike in protest at prison conditions.

Many sympathisers wishing to pay tribute to Mr Zapata were arrested last week and briefly detained. One of them was the internationally known blogger Yoani Sánchez. She was arrested when she was went to sign the condolence register. Ms Sanchéz has since been released, but says via Twitter that she has been refused a visa for a trip abroad.

Since Mr Zapata's death, at least five other people have gone on hunger strike in solidarity. Four are political prisoners, the fifth is journalist Guillermo Fariñas. His doctor says that after five days without food he is already very weak and urgently needs hospital treatment.