Anti-terrorist fighter Rene Gonzalez thanked the many religious denominations in Cuba, Latin America and worldwide today for their solidarity and ongoing efforts to end the incarceration that four of his companions have suffered in the United States since 1998.

Gonzalez, along with Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Ramon Labañino, were arrested for warning their country about violent plans by terrorist groups operating on U.S. soil.

"We cannot forget that we still have four brothers undeservedly confined in U.S. prisons," said Gonzalez, speaking to some 300 religious representatives from 20 countries participating in the 6th Latin American Council of Churches which opened here on Wednesday, May 22.

"They, as well as you, are defending the most precious thing known to man: life," said Gonzalez, who called for continuing a tireless struggle to return the men to their people.

Rene Gonzalez, after completing his prison term, was forced to serve three years more of supervised release in the United States, but those conditions were modified by Judge Joan Lenard on May 3.

Lenard agreed to allow Gonzalez to remain in Cuba, in exchange for his renunciation of U.S. citizenship, a process that began with a certification issued by that country's authorities on May 9.