U.S. prepares to indict Raúl Castro

The U.S. Justice Department is preparing a federal indictment against Raúl Castro, Cuba’s former president. The charges are linked to the Feb. 24, 1996, downing of two civilian planes flown by the Miami group Brothers to the Rescue. Cuban fighter jets downed the planes, killing four Cuban-American pilots: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales. Castro, now 94, was Cuba’s minister of the armed forces at the time. The planned indictment is part of increased pressure on Cuba’s government. Castro could not be extradited from Cuba, but the charges would carry symbolic weight.