Cuban refugees land on Florida's west coast

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec 18 (Reuters) Twenty-five Cuban refugees came ashore near Sarasota, Florida, before dawn today and were taken into custody by U.S. immigration officials, police said.

The men and women were discovered about five a m EST on Longboat Key on Florida's Gulf Coast.

According to police, the Cubans said they left their communist homeland by boat on Friday and had not eaten since Thursday evening.

The Cubans were given food and dry clothing and taken in vans to Tampa for processing.

US policy allows Cubans to remain in the United States if they reach US shores. If they are detained while still at sea they are normally returned to Cuba.

The US Coast Guard was looking for the boat that brought the Cubans ashore. Most Cuban refugees land in South Florida along the Atlantic Coast.

US security officials have said they are preparing for the possibility that the death of ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro could spark a massive wave of migration from the island nation.

REUTERS AB KP2339